Anatomy and Histology of the Stomach and Pyloric Caeca in Mugilidae, Liza aurata (Risso, 1810), L. abu (Heckel, 1843) and Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Alimentary canal of fishes has a great variety of structural Peculiarities which are important in fisheries and biology. The aim of this study was to explain the anatomical and histological aspects of stomach and pyloric caeca in L. aurata, L. abu and M. cephalus (Mugilidae) from the Caspian Sea. Fifteen adult individuals of mugilidae; Liza aurata, L. abu and Mugil cephalus were collected from three fishing areas in the Caspian Sea, northwestern and the northeastern Persian Gulf. The length and diameter of stomach and the length, diameter and number of pyloric caeca were measured. L. aurata had larger stomach than L. abu. Anatomical and histological study showed stomach is U-shaped and gizzard like; it is divided into anterior cardiac and posterior pyloric portions, while pyloric caeca is a finger-like straight organ. In transverse section, the wall of the stomach and pyloric caeca is deeply folded with four-layered general structure. Lenght and diameter of stomach showed strong correlation with standard length of specimens.