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Fish erythrocyte sizes

NOTE: These are size measurements for fish erythrocytes (red blood cells).  Erythrocytes in fishes are elliptical, and as such two different diameters are provided: CLD ("cell long diameter") and CSD ("cell short diameter").  NLD ("nucleus long diameter") and NSD ("nucleus short diameter") are also provided where available.  In both cases, the diameters were measured from dry smears.  These were used to calculate dry cell area (CA) and dry nucleus area (NA) using the equation for elliptical area: CA = pi * (CLD/2) * (CSD/2).  In some cases, area is measured directly using image analysis with a calibration slide, so diameters are not available.  MCV ("mean corpuscular volume") is wet volume and is usually measured with a Coulter counter.  These different measurements (e.g., CA and MCV) should not be compared to each other, so pick only one for any analyses you wish to do, or run them separately.  Diameters are in µm, areas are in µm2, and volumes are in µm3. 

Species and taxonomic information   
CLD   
CSD  
CA      
Ref  
NLD  
NSD  
NA     
Ref  
MCV  
Ref   
SUPERCLASS AGNATHA
CLASS CEPHALASPIDOMORPHI
ORDER Petromyzontiformes
Family Petromyzontidae
Geotria australis 12.8 12.8 128.68 11



370 11
Lampetra fluviatilis 11.6 11.6 105.68 11



189 11
" " 11.9 11.9 111.27 1
Lampetra planeri 11.9 11.9 111.27 1
Petromyzon marinus 11.9 11.9 111.27 1 4.0 4.0 12.37 1 534 13
" " 14.3 14.3 160.61 6



710 6
CLASS MYXINI
ORDER Myxiniformes
Family Myxinidae
Myxine glutinosa 26.2 18.0 370.39 3



1530 3
Myxus petardi 10.2 7.0 56.08 2 3.5 2.5 6.87 2
SUPERCLASS GNATHOSTOMATA
CLASS CHONDRICHTHYES
SUBCLASS ELASMOBRANCHII
ORDER Carcharhiniformes
Family Carcharhinidae
Carcharhinus brachyurus

175.36 14

31.92 14
Carcharhinus leucas 17.5 12.7 174.55 10
Carcharhinus maculipinnis 15.1 10.4 123.34 13 5.8 4.3 19.59 13 739 13
Carcharhinus melanopterus

143.91 14

27.33 14
Carcharhinus obscurus 19.0 13.5 201.45 4 7.3 6.5 37.27 4
" " 16.3 14.9 190.75 10
Carcharhinus plumbeus 16.7 15.5 203.30 10
Galeocerdo cuvier 21.9 17.9 307.88 10
Negaprion brevirostris 15.3 12.8 153.81 10
Prionace glauca 21.6 15.4 261.25 13 7.9 6.8 42.19 13 800 13
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae 19.3 16.2 245.56 10
Family Scyliorhinidae
Scyliorhinus canicula 25.4 16.5 328.60 1 8.5 6.4 42.23 1
Scyliorhinus stellaris 25.4 14.3 285.15 1
Family Sphyrnidae
Sphyrna lewini

229.69 14

40.63 14
Sphyrna mokarran 17.0 12.3 164.23 10
Sphyrna tiburo 17.5 12.7 174.55 10
Sphyrna tudes 18.0 12.5 176.71 2 7.0 5.5 30.24 2
Sphyrna zygaena 14.0 10.6 116.55 6



526 6
Family Triakidae
Mustelus canis 16.2 10.8 137.41 4 6.5 5.2 26.55 4 546 5
ORDER Lamniformes
Family Lamnidae
Isurus oxyrinchus

231.39 14

78.07 14 727 13
Lamna nasus 27.5 16.9 365.99 1
ORDER Orectolobiformes
Family Ginglymostomatidae
Ginglymostoma cirratum 18.4 16.0 231.22 10
Nebrius ferrugineus

250.48 14

64.46 14
Family Hemiscylliidae
Chiloscyllium punctatum

261.88 14

50.01 14
Chiloscyllium sp. 23.0 13.5 243.87 2 9.0 7.0 49.48 2
Hemiscyllium ocellatum

195.86 14

40.31 14
Family Orectolobidae
Orectolobus ornatus

318.06 14

51.17 14
ORDER Rajiformes
Family Dasyatidae
Dasyatis bennetti

176.42 14

33.16 14
Dasyatis centroura 19.7 13.8 213.52 7 8.1 6.9 43.90 7
" " 21.1 14.8 245.26 5
Dasyatis kuhlii 18.0 14.0 197.92 2 7.0 5.5 30.24 2
Himantura signifer

166.70 14

39.57 14
Family Rajidae
Bathyraja parmifera

225.29 14

59.84 14
Dipturus batis 26.2 17.5 359.02 1
Dipturus chilensis 21.3 14.5 242.57 4 8.1 6.0 38.17 4 727 5
" " 28.4 17.5 390.34 3



1274 3
Dipturus laevis 23.3 16.9 309.91 1
Leucoraja erinacea 20.3 12.9 205.67 7 8.4 6.1 40.24 7
" " 24.3 13.9 265.28 3



778 3
Leucoraja ocellata

246.45 14

39.01 14
Raja clavata 23.3 15.9 290.54 1
Raja eglanteria 23.3 14.1 258.03 3



766 3
" " 23.6 16.4 303.98 13 6.4 5.1 25.64 13 1095 13
" " 24.3 14.3 272.92 4 6.7 5.4 28.42 4 864 5
" " 25.5 14.6 292.40 10
Raja montagui 22.0 14.1 243.63 6



641 6
Family Rhinobatidae
Aptychotrema rostrata

236.70 14

39.20 14
ORDER Squaliformes
Family Dalatiidae
Centroscymnus coelolepis

599.60 14

127.09 14
Centroscymnus crepidater

609.98 14

147.57 14
Centroscymnus owstoni

591.67 14

124.07 14
Centroscymnus plunketi

482.56 14

157.33 14
Etmopterus brachyurus

556.70 14

144.96 14
Etmopterus granulosus

492.36 14

134.46 14
Oxynotus bruniensis

639.02 14

110.68 14
Oxynotus centrina 31.8 25.4 633.38 1
Family Squalidae
Squalus acanthias 23.1 15.4 279.40 13 8.7 5.7 38.95 13 750 13
" " 22.1 15.9 275.86 1 8.5 6.4 42.23 1
" " 23.7 17.0 316.44 3



947 3
" "

326.42 14

55.17 14
ORDER Squatiniformes
Family Squatinidae
Squatina australis

497.46 14

142.49 14
Squatina squatina 24.6 17.5 337.45 1
ORDER Torpediniformes
Family Torpedinidae
Torpedo nobiliana 29.8 23.2 542.99 6



1593 6
Torpedo torpedo 31.8 25.4 633.38 1
CLASS OSTEICHTHYES
SUBCLASS ACTINOPTERYGII
INFRACLASS Chondrostei
ORDER Acipenseriformes
Family Acipenseridae
Acipenser brevirostrum

192.74 14

43.82 14
" " (triploid)

234.10 14

64.60 14
Acipenser oxyrhynchus

96.47 14

18.88 14
" " (triploid)

141.23 14

23.63 14
Acipenser sturio 14.0 9.7 106.66 5



506 5
" " 15.9 9.5 118.79 1
Family Polypteridae
Polypterus palmas

158.87 14

34.72 14
INFRACLASS Neopterygii
SUPERORDER Teleostei
ORDER Anguilliformes
Family Anguillidae
Anguilla anguilla 14.6 8.9 102.17 1
Anguilla bicolor bicolor 14.3 8.5 95.05 1
Anguilla marmorata 13.4 8.8 92.20 1
Anguilla rostrata 13.0 8.0 81.68 3



156 3
" " 11.5 7.6 68.64 7 3.8 3.2 9.55 7
" "

101.88 14

16.71 14
Anguilla sp. 12.3 8.1 78.25 5
Family Chlopsidae
Ophichthus cephalozona

99.34 14

20.24 14
Family Congridae
Conger conger 11.1 8.5 73.89 1
Family Muraenesocidae
Muraenesox cinereus

87.77 14

22.62 14
Family Muraenidae
Sideria picta

123.73 14

18.99 14
Family Ophichthidae
Ophichthus cruentifer 10.9 7.7 65.92 7 4.0 3.3 10.37 7
Family Synaphobranchidae
Diastobranchus capensis

201.00 14

26.75 14
ORDER Atheriniformes
Family Atherinidae
Odontesthes argentinensis 12.0 7.5 70.69 9 5.0 3.0 11.78 9
ORDER Aulopiformes
Family Synodontidae
Synodus sageneus

67.32 14

16.32 14
ORDER Batrachoidiformes
Family Batrachoididae
Opsanus tau 17.1 11.5 154.45 13 5.9 4.3 19.93 13 800 13
" " 14.9 12.9 150.96 7 5.8 5.2 23.69 7
ORDER Beloniformes
Family Belonidae
Belone belone 11.1 8.5 73.89 1
Platybelone argalus platyura

74.71 14

18.20 14
ORDER Beryciformes
Family Diretmidae
Diretmichthys parini

106.75 14

19.01 14
ORDER Characiformes
Family Characidae
Colossoma macropomum

71.90 14

18.08 14
Hemigrammus caudovittatus 16.5 9.0 116.63 9 6.0 4.5 21.21 9
ORDER Clupeiformes
Family Chirocentridae
Chirocentrus dorab

57.50 14

12.49 14
Family Clupeidae
Alosa fallax 11.1 8.5 73.89 1
Brevoortia tyrannus 9.8 7.3 56.19 4 4.6 3.2 11.56 4
Clupea harengus 9.5 7.1 53.46 1
Nematalosa come

62.94 14

10.85 14
Nematalosa erebi 12.2 8.0 76.65 2 4.8 2.3 8.67 2
Sardina pilchardus 11.1 7.9 69.27 1
Sardinella gibbosa

59.94 14

15.09 14
Sprattus sprattus 9.5 7.1 53.46 1
Family Engraulidae
Engraulis anchoita 12.0 7.5 70.69 9 5.0 4.0 15.71 9
Engraulis encrasicolus 11.1 8.5 73.89 1
ORDER Cypriniformes
Family Balitoridae
Barbatula barbatula 11.1 7.9 69.27 1
Family Catostomidae
Catostomus catostomus catostomus

137.82 14

26.57 14
Catostomus commersonii

105.44 14

21.97 14
Family Cyprinidae
Abramis brama 10.6 7.1 59.39 1
Carassius auratus auratus 12.5 8.5 83.45 9 5.5 4.0 17.28 9
" " 14.3 9.0 100.97 1
" "

82.69 14

12.72 14
Cyprinus carpio 11.9 7.4 68.99 1 4.0 3.2 9.90 1
Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

53.20 14

12.65 14
Epalzeorhynchos frenatum

55.17 14

14.73 14
Gobio gobio 11.9 8.8 81.92 1
Labeo chrysophekadion

60.03 14

11.98 14
Leuciscus cephalus 11.9 7.1 66.82 1
Phoxinus eos-neogaeus

132.19 14

23.12 14
Phoxinus neogaeus

94.19 14

15.91 14
Phoxinus phoxinus 12.7 8.8 87.36 1
Rutilus rutilus 11.9 8.5 79.19 1
Scardinius erythrophthalmus 12.7 7.9 79.17 1
Semotilus corporalis

74.07 14

14.99 14
Tinca tinca 13.4 10.6 111.41 1 3.2 2.6 6.60 1
Family Gyrinocheilidae
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

40.43 14

7.57 14
ORDER Cyprinodontiformes
Family Anablepidae
Jenynsia lineata 10.5 6.5 53.60 9 4.5 3.0 10.60 9
Family Aplocheilidae
Pachypanchax playfairii

37.63 14

8.58 14
Family Poeciliidae
Poecilia mexicana

60.97 14

13.40 14
ORDER Esociformes
Family Esocidae
Esox lucius 12.7 7.1 71.27 1 4.8 3.2 11.88 1
" "

73.84 14

16.63 14
Esox niger

75.30 14

13.72 14
ORDER Gadiformes
Family Gadidae
Boreogadus saida

89.24 14

12.65 14
Gadus morhua

76.51 14

17.33 14
Gadus morhua 12.2 9.0 86.24 3



186 3
" " 11.9 7.1 66.82 1
Melanogrammus aeglefinus 10.3 7.9 64.37 1
Merlangius merlangus 10.3 7.1 57.94 1
Pollachius virens 11.4 8.1 72.52 3



143 3
" " 11.9 8.5 79.19 1
Trisopterus luscus 10.3 7.9 64.37 1
Family Lotidae
Ciliata mustela 10.6 7.9 65.98 1
Gaidropsarus ensis

86.95 14

13.81 14
Family Macrouridae
Caelorinchus innotabilis

67.35 14

12.35 14
Caelorinchus maurofasciatus

67.07 14

12.82 14
Coryphaenoides serrulatus

105.73 14

20.05 14
Macrourus berglax

62.17 14

12.82 14
Mesobius antipodum

112.19 14

20.07 14
Family Merlucciidae
Merluccius bilinearis 11.1 5.9 51.44 3



254 3
Merluccius hubbsi 15.0 6.5 76.58 9 6.0 3.0 14.14 9
Merluccius merluccius 11.9 8.5 79.19 1
Family Moridae
Halargyreus johnsonii

102.21 14

18.26 14
Family Phycidae
Urophycis tenuis

72.90 14

17.76 14
" " 13.7 8.0 86.08 3



242 3
ORDER Gasterosteiformes
Family Gasterosteiidae
Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus 9.5 8.5 63.35 1
Pungitius pungitius pungitius 9.5 8.5 63.35 1
ORDER Gymnotiformes
Family Electrophoridae
Electrophorus electricus 14.6 9.8 111.73 1
Family Rhamphichthyidae
Rhamphichthys rostratus

41.83 14

14.79 14
ORDER Lophiiformes
Family Lophiidae
Lophius americanus

84.21 14

17.70 14
Lophius piscatorius 11.6 9.2 83.82 13 5.6 4.2 18.47 13 215 13
" " 13.8 9.3 100.80 3



167 3
" " 12.6 10.8 106.88 7 5.2 4.7 19.20 7
" " 13.0 10.3 105.16 6



241 6
" " 13.4 9.5 100.30 1
Family Tetrabranchiidae
Tetrabrachium ocellatum

84.62 14

18.19 14
ORDER Myctophiformes
Family Neoscopelidae
Neoscopelus macrolepidotus

153.71 14

29.93 14
ORDER Osmeriformes
Family Galaxiidae
Galaxias olidus 11.0 9.0 77.75 2 5.5 3.5 15.12 2
Family Osmeridae
Osmerus eperlanus 11.1 8.5 73.89 1 4.0 2.9 8.91 1
Osmerus mordax

61.20 14

17.10 14
ORDER Perciformes
Family Acanthuridae
Acanthurus grammoptilus

49.53 14

11.76 14
Zebrasoma scopas

58.40 14

12.53 14
Family Apogonidae
Apogon cookii

66.93 14

13.62 14
Apogon endetakaena

70.61 14

12.99 14
Apogon guamensis

70.03 14

13.96 14
Apogon kallopterus

66.46 14

14.70 14
Apogon savayensis

71.44 14

17.99 14
Family Ammodytidae
Ammodytes tobianus 12.7 7.1 71.27 1
Family Belontidae
Betta splendens

56.86 14

8.92 14
Family Blenniidae
Crossosalarias macrospilus

65.14 14

10.73 14
Ecsenius mandibularis

50.66 14

13.30 14
Ecsenius yaeyamaensis

48.38 14

11.25 14
Lipophrys pholis 10.3 8.5 68.66 1
Petroscirtes fallax

55.97 14

9.25 14
Petroscirtes lupus

60.30 14

10.47 14
Petroscirtes mitratus

54.80 14

7.06 14
Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos

59.77 14

13.80 14
Family Caesionidae
Caesio cuning

67.28 14

7.56 14
Family Callionymidae
Callionymus limiceps

53.63 14

14.95 14
Callionymus lyra 11.1 8.5 73.89 1
Family Carangidae
Carangoides fulvoguttatus

48.63 14

9.96 14
Carangoides gymnostethus

45.45 14

8.89 14
Seriola hippos

46.03 14

10.25 14
Seriola lalandi 10.5 7.0 57.73 2 4.5 2.5 8.84 2
Trachurus trachurus 12.7 7.1 71.27 1
Ulua aurochs

38.74 14

9.56 14
Family Chaetodontidae
Chaetodon lunulatus

54.87 14

12.23 14
Chaetodon rainfordi

44.22 14

11.64 14
Family Channidae
Channa gachua







133 12
Channa punctata







130 12
Channa striata







126 12
Family Coryphaenidae
Coryphaena hippurus

42.56 14

11.06 14
Family Cryptacanthodidae
Cryptacanthodes maculatus 13.5 9.0 95.43 3



200 3
Family Drepaneidae
Drepane punctata

54.62 14

10.43 14
Family Echeneidae
Echeneis naucrates 11.8 7.0 64.87 5



111 5
" " 9.0 7.0