Victoria Tibenda Namulawa; Charcles Drago Kato; Edward Nyatia; Justus Rutaisire & Peter Britz

The morphology of the gastrointestinal tract of adult Nile perch was described using standard SEM procedures. Investigations revealed the presence of cardiform teeth in the oral cavity, goblet cells and finger print-like microridges on the hard palate and oesophagus lumenal surface. Elaborate patterns and bacterial cells were observed on the stomach lumenal surface and intense foldings in the intestinal region. These observations provide a better understanding of the morphology of the gut in Nile perch and how it is suited for its digestive function.

KEY WORDS; Gastrointestinal tract; Lates niloticus; Scanning electron microscopy.

NAMULAWA, V. T.; KATO, C. D.; NYATIA, E.; RUTAISIRE, J. & BRITZ, P. J. Scanning electron microscopy of the gastrointestinal tract of nile perch (Lates niloticus, Linneaus, 1758). Int. J. Morphol., 31(3):1068-1075, 2013.