Journal of Environmental Biology

Haematological changes in African lungfish, Protopterus

annectens after aerial exposure

 

A.I. Okafor*

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Abia State University - 2000, Uturu, Nigeria

(Received: September 18, 2007; Revised received: January 10, 2009; Accepted: January 27, 2009)

Abstract: Specimens of the west African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (mean weight 294.3 g mean length 38.1 cm), procured from Agulu lake at Agulu in Anambra state, Nigeria were removed from the ambient water and exposed to complete aerial life for a period of seven consecutive days after which some of their haematological changes were determined. There were significant polycythaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocythaemia and elevation of haemoglobin contents (p<0.05). The importance of these haematological adjustments which the fish makes whilst subjected to complete aerial habitat prior to aestivation are discussed.

Key word: Aerial habitat, Leucocytosis, Polycythaemia, Thrombocythaemia

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