Haematological characteristics of African bony tongue, Heterotis niloticus (Teleostei: Arapaimidae), in south-western Nigeria

Abstract

Haematological characteristics — including red and white blood cells counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, protein, glucose, albumin, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus — were established from an examination of 25 adult Heterotis niloticus collected at a fish farm. The red and white blood cell counts did not positively correlate with the physical parameters of length and weight. There were significant correlations between the blood cells, haemoglobin and pack cell volume. The blood group, genotype and agglutination test results were 92% Rh-O⁺ and 8% Rh-O⁻, respectively, and were similar to the pattern in humans.