pyloric ceca

Pyloric ceca are tubular pouches that open into the alimentary canal in the pyloric region of most fishes. They also appear in insects and starfish, serving different functions. In fish, these fingerlike appendages are located just after the stomach and secrete digestive enzymes, increasing the surface area for digestion. The number of pyloric ceca can vary among fish species, with more predatory species sometimes having a greater number. However, this is not a universal rule, as some predatory fish lack them entirely, while others that eat algae may have a very large number.12