The objectives of this work were to study the functional anatomy and the comparative morphometry in the medium intestine and in the rectum of Teleostei, surubim, Pseudoplatystoma coruscans (Agassiz, 1829) (Siluriformes, Siluroidei, Pimelodidae), with carnivorous feeding habits, in two size classes, aiming to provide nutritional data for the adjustment of different artificial feeding system. It was concluded that the surubim intestine, under a morphological view, must be called of medium intestine and rectum, due to the presence of ileo-rectal valve and of intestinal valve invagination among these segments. In relation to the intestinal widding pattern, although the overall arrangement of the medium intestine and rectum was maintained, the medium intestine rings showed undefined arrangement, and an standard arrangement could not be determined for the specie. The intestinal arrangement was compatible to the most carnivorous fishes, or predominantly carnivore, once the intestine is almost ret; however, the circunvolutions of intestine final rings of medium intestine can be considered adaptations of a possible omnivorous feeding, preferentially carnivorous. The intestinal fold were more complex and developed in the intestine of the second size class species. In order to establish the relations among the mucous fold arrangement and the o food transportation speed in the medium intestine of the studied specie, it is suggested that the longitudinal pattern, with several anastomoses delay the feed progress in the aboral direction, allowing a larger digestive period and, consequently, better feed nutrients profit, by the feed material exposition to the intestinal mucous for larger period, besides contributing for the fecal mass preparation. The mucous fold next to the anus have longitudinal direction, contributing for the fecal bolos expulsion, directing them to the exterior environment.
anatomy; freshwater fish; surubim; teleosteo
