Abstract
Hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined in the mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, a tropical fish that can undergo emersion for >1 month when they leave the waters of mangrove forests and find refuge in moist, terrestrial habitats. Hematocrit was 27.67% ± 1.22 (mean ± s.e.m.), hemoglobin concentration was 7.41 ± 0.52 g/dL, and MCHC was 26.47 ± 0.93 g/dL. A linear relationship was present between hematocrit and hemoglobin in K. marmoratus (R2 = 0.833; P < 0.001) . A significant correlation between collected blood volume and standard length was present (P = 0.001). Limitations of the assays used to measure hemoglobin and hematocrit in this small fish species are discussed. Hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations are within ranges determined for other air-breathing fishes and show the feasibility of measuring hematological parameters in this small fish during emersion.
Recommended Citation
Shiver, Nathan B. and Grove, Theresa
(2011)
"Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Determination in the Mangrove Killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus,"
Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 69, No. 2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol69/iss2/4