The present paper describes haematological characteristics of jundiá Rhamdia quelen Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 (Osteichthyes: Pimelodidae), reared in captivity. The average values of red blood cells count, hematocrit, hemoglobin rate, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and defense blood cells (leukocytes and thrombocytes), were determined. Identification and morphology of organic defense blood cells were reported. Thrombocytes and lymphocytes were the most frequent cells in slides blood of R. quelen. Linear regression analysis showed negative correlation between thrombocytes and lymphocytes percentual. The present results furnish normal blood values of R. quelen reared intensively, that assist in comparison to the other culture conditions.
blood; freshwater fish; haematology; leucocytes; Rhamdia quelen
