Digestive enzymes in the gut of the elephant snout fish, Mormyrus rume (Valenciennes, 1846) (Osteichthys: Mormyridae)

Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative assays were conducted to determine the occurrence and distribution of digestive enzymes in different gut regions of juvenile and adult elephant snout fish, Mormyrus rume. Amylase, maltase, lactase, sucrase, chitinase, pepsin, trypsin and lipase were present in the oesophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca, duodenum, ileum and rectum at varying quantities and activities. The wide distribution of enzymes in both juvenile and adult M. rume confirms its ability to digest carbohydrate, protein and lipid portions of its diet.

Key words: Digestive enzymes, gut, Mormyrus rume.