- Thesis research
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- dmmorales@csupomona.edu
I am studying the histology of the digestive tract of several species of the teleost family Trichomycteridae. These are catfish native to freshwaters of Central and South America. Most of the species eat macroinvertebrates, but there are a few species that are parasitic on other larger fishes. Some feed on blood (subfamily Vandelliinae) others feed on mucous or scales (subfamily Stegophilinae). Gross morphology shows that this family has no stomach. Very little has been published on the histology of this family. I am trying to determine if these fish have gastric tissues in the anterior portion of their gut which would indicate that there is at least, histologically, a stomach. I am also studying some local Cyprinids, which are known to lack stomachs, for comparison. I am hoping that this study will reveal more phylogenetic relationships about this group.
Links to interesting Web Sites
- American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists
- Neotropical Ichthyological Association
- Society For the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
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