Morrison, C.M., D.J.Martell, C.Leggiadro-1997
Journal of Fish Biology, 50:120-126
Abstract:
Two regions of ciliated epithelium are described in the digestive tract of halibut larva. The anterior region, present by 5 days post-hatch and still present at 25 days post-hatch, probably moves water through the branchial openings into the oesophagus and onto the midgut until the
mouth forms at about 29 days post-hatch. A ciliated region was present also in the occluded posterior hindgut, which joins the excretory duct to form a common duct to the exterior. This
posterior ciliated region may help to circulate water in the mid-and hindgut until the anus opens directly to the exterior, at about 25 days post-hatch.
(Department of Fisheries and Oceans , Science Branch , Halifax Laboratory, Box 550, Halifax, N.S., Canada B3J 2S7 )
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