Haematological characteristics of freshwater-reared and wild mullet, Mugil platanus Günther (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae)

Mullets, Mugilplalanus Günther, 1880. were obtained from the estua-rine area of CananÉia (São Paulo, Brazil) and from freshwater tearing tanks. For each fish the body weight, body length, gonad weight and gonad maturation stage were recorded and the allometric index (K) was calculated. Blood was collected for hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin level (lib), total cell count (Er), and the determination of hematological indices (MCV. MCH, MCHC), as well as the differential leukocyte count (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils and '"other cells"). The averages of the hematological analyses, hematological indeces, condition factor and leukocytes percentage of the specimens acclimated to fresh water were significantly higher than those of the specimens from the estuary