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Stomach
(100x). Note the relatively low muscularis-to-mucosa size
ratio in this species. a)muscularis. b) gastric gland.
c) submucosa. d) lumen. e) mucosa. This species likely
utilizes acidic stomach secretions to break the cell walls
of their algal forage, as do other acanthurids that have
similar stomach morphology (Lobel, 1981). In contrast
to A. bahianus, wild-caught A. coeruleus stomachs are
found full of algae, with little or no sand. Grossly,
they are very thin-walled with relatively large luminal
volumes.
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