| 【Objectives】Study on the relationship between food composition and intestinal allogeneic growth of Squalidus argentatus so as to explor of its ecological adaptation.【Method】A total of 46 S. argentatus were collected from the Cangxi reaches in midstream of the Jialing River to analyze their food composition and intestinal allometric growth pattern.【Result】The intestinal circling pattern of S. argentatus was simple, which showed S-shape. The foregut, midgut, and hindgut were different significantly in length, quality and development degree. The results of the allometric growth equation showed that there were allometric growth in the foregut and the whole intestine of S. argentatus, which changed from rapid growth （before the inflection point） to constant growth. While the midgut always maintained rapid growth, and the hindgut maintained constant growth. Diet analysis showed that the main diet of S. argentatus was composed of various food categories, including organic detritus, diatoms, freshwater moule （Limnoperna lacustris）, and chironomidae larvae. Due to the various food sources, the S. argentatus was defined as omnivorous fish. S. argentatus was grouped according to the inflection point of foregut. Before the inflection point, organic detritus （Percentage of weight=76.84%）, chironomidae larvae （21.16%）, and diatoms （1.77%） were the main food for S. argentatus （24 individuals）. However, after the inflection point, organic detritus （90.41%） was the most important food category for S. argentatus （22 individuals）, followed by L. lacustris （6.64%） and diatom （1.18%）.【Conclusion】S. argentatus belongs omnivorous fish, its foregut and whole intestine show allometric growth pattern which may be closely related to the prey digestion and absorption. |
