This study describes the morphology and histochemistry of the digestive tube of the herbivorous fish Rhytiodus microlepis, which is commonly found in the Amazonian floodplain lakes, Brazil. Thirty-eight fish were used in this study. The digestive tube was measured and dissected for anatomical description, and stained with (i) haematoxylin and eosin, for histological analyses; (ii) periodic acid-Schiff, for detected neutral mucins; and (iii) Alcian Blue (AB) pH 1.0 and 2.5 for acid and sulphated acid mucins. The oesophagus, with its secretory cells and taste buds, is adapted for lubrication of vegetable matter, resistance to friction and reception of stimuli. The stomach is U-shaped and rich in gastric glands, particularly in cardiac and fundic regions, which are adapted to receive large amounts of food, and promotes the digestion. The intestine comprises more than 70% of the digestive tube. All portions of the intestine, except the rectum, have the same pattern of mucosal folds, and the goblet cells reacted positively to all histochemical methods (PAS, AB 1.0 and 2.5), while rodlet cells reacted only to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Neutral mucins and sulphated acid mucins predominated in the anterior portion of the intestine and a high concentration of carboxylated acid mucosubstances were present in the other portions. The rectum showed a strong reaction to all histochemical methods. The muscular layer of the intestine consists of three layers, which showed features presumably related to the rigid nature of the food. A simple squamous epithelium constitutes the serous layer over the entire length of the tube.
Keywords: Anostomidae; alimentary canal; herbivory; morphohistochemistry.
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