Abstract
The morphological and morphometric studies of the blood cells of an Indian air-breathing fish, Monopterus cuchia have been made using scanning electron microscope. The large elliptical erythrocytes (9.9μm×6.9μm) have relatively smooth surface. Clone cells arise within the erythrocytes and have been found to release red cell fragments, the “schistocytes” with spinous projections, which later on take the form of normal erythrocytes. Heteromorphogenic division of the red blood cells has also been observed. Among leucocytes, the mature granulocyte cells appear to be spherical with smooth surface. The granulocytes show multiple pseudopodial projections and are quite different from the erythrocytes. Several pits and protrusions are seen on their surfaces, giving a sieve like appearance. Morphometric measurements of different cell types have been done.
