INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES Volume III, Issue 8 August 2023, eISSN: 2799-0664 IJAMS 153 Copyright © 2023 IJAMS, All right reserved Abundance, Anatomy, and Sex Identification Brackish Lesser Thrush Eel (Moringua microchir) “Poyoy” in Pres. Roxas, Capiz PHILOMEL INNOCENT OBLIGAR DR. ERIC ESTEBAN CONTRERAS DR. ELIZABETH DAYAL Capiz State University, Pilar Campus pipobligar@capsu.edu.ph Abstract — “Puyoy” or Lesser Thrush Eel (Moringua microchir) is a brackish eel, a delicacy in Pontevedra and Presidents Roxas in the Province of Capiz. This study was conducted to find out the anatomy, physiology, abundance and population size of “Puyoy” in Pres, Roxas, Capiz. This was conducted at four sampling sites in four barangays. A 1000m line transect and a 5x5 quadrat were used to gather data from the field in each sampling area. “Karit” was used to catch “Puyoy” as a sample specimen and was dissected to identify its anatomy and physiology. The researchers used formulas of species richness and abundance by Curtis & McIntosh (1950) to determine its abundance. Findings revealed that Ppuyoy” has an elongated, smooth, slimy and cylindrical body. Two long teeth at the upper and lower front jaw and the rest were small. The eyes are above the upper jaw. Pectoral fins were small fan-like structure and no dorsal fins and scales. Male “Puyoy” is color red and black with a length of 26-30cm and 1.5 cm in circumference. Anus from gills is 16-17cm and its tail is fan-like and the heart is red. The female is white and grayish with a length of 20-23 cm and 1.5 cm.in circumference. Anus from the gills is 10-11cm or mid-length with a pointed tail and the heart is white. Eggs were also observed during dissection. “Puyoy” spend most of their adult lives in a brackish environment. In the day, they hide in muddy surfaces and go to the ocean for forage at night. They take almost any available food, such as, benthic invertebrates like “agihis” (small bulbs). “Puyoy” were abundant in Brgy. Mandulano compares to the other three barangays. Keywords — Brackish eel, Anatomy, Physiology, Abundance, Dissection, Puyoy and Agihis I. Introduction Eels are one of the most delicate and difficult-to-catch species in the Philippines' freshwater and brackish water. It is for this reason why eel is so pricey on the market. "Puyoy" is a brackish water eel that is a favorite delicacy in the Pres. Capiz province includes the towns of Roxas, Pilar, Pontevedra, and Panay. The fish may be found in wetlands with saltwater and all salinities in between, such as in Pres, Roxas, Capiz's Barangay Sangkal, Mandulaw, Quiajo, and Marita. It is generally obtained from brackish muddy mangrove forests along rivers that go into the sea. The fish is frequently characterized as being long, small, bony, and slimy. According to Mang Toto, one of the "manugpuyoy" (eel catchers), the fish may be captured with a "karit", taba, and tayab. The presence of "agihis" is one of the identifying markers indicating the fish is present in the