The hematology of mrigal, Cirrhina mrigala (Ham.) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Hematological parameters of a carp, Cirrhina mrigala, are reported here. Haematocrit ranged from 29.0 to 44.0%. The range of hemoglobin was 7.06 to 11.86 g/100 ml of blood, and the total number of erythrocytes varied from 1.7 to 3.0 million/mm3 of the blood, both hemoglobin and erythrocyte concentrations being higher in males than in the females. Mean ESR was 1.88 mm/h, with higher ESR in females (2.05 mm/h) than in the males (1.67 mm/h). The clotting time in males (41.0 seconds) was lower than in the females (63.5 seconds). Hematological values varied with the size and weight of the fishes. Variations in hematological parameters with season and in fishes of different maturation states were quite apparent.