Abundance, anatomy, and sex identification brackish lesser thrush eel (Moringua microchir)

Abstract

“Puyoy” or Lesser Thrush Eel (Moringua microchir) is a brackish eel, a delicacy in Pontevedra and Presidents Roxas in the Province of Capiz. This study was conducted to find out the anatomy, physiology, abundance and population size of “Puyoy” in Pres, Roxas, Capiz. This was conducted at four sampling sites in four barangays. A 1000m line transect and a 5×5 quadrat were used to gather data from the field in each sampling area. “Karit” was used to catch “Puyoy” as a sample specimen and was dissected to identify its anatomy and physiology. The researchers used formulas of species richness and abundance by Curtis & McIntosh (1950) to determine its abundance. Findings revealed that Ppuyoy” has an elongated, smooth, slimy and cylindrical body. Two long teeth at the upper and lower front jaw and the rest were small. The eyes are above the upper jaw. Pectoral fins were small fan-like structure and no dorsal fins and scales. Male “Puyoy” is color red and black with a length of 26-30cm and 1.5 cm in circumference. Anus from gills is 16-17cm and its tail is fan-like and the heart is red. The female is white and grayish with a length of 20-23 cm and 1.5 cm.in circumference. Anus from the gills is 10-11cm or mid-length with a pointed tail and the heart is white. Eggs were also observed during dissection. “Puyoy” spend most of their adult lives in a brackish environment. In the day, they hide in muddy surfaces and go to the ocean for forage at night. They take almost any available food, such as, benthic invertebrates like “agihis” (small bulbs). “Puyoy” were abundant in Brgy. Mandulano compares to the other three barangays.