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The integument of the nonamphibious goby Gobionellus oceanicus : Its functional morphology and respiratory capacity
Author(s) -
Aguilar Letícia,
Leite Rebeca Nuno,
Ferreira Cleomárcia Almeida,
Cruz André Luis
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.20848
Subject(s) - biology , goby , integument , facultative , respiratory system , anatomy , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Facultative air‐breathing fish can exchange respiratory gases using an air‐breathing organ (ABO), such as the oral cavity of the integument, during environmental hypoxia. The goby Gobionellus oceanicus inhabits areas subject to environmental hypoxia; however, its ABO is unknown. To investigate the respiratory potential of G. oceanicus , the gill and integument surface area, diffusion capacity, and their diffusion barrier thickness were measured. Our results show that although gill surface area is smaller than observed in other facultative air‐breathing fish, but it has all features necessary to perform aquatic gas exchange. Additionally the integument of the palate has a short diffusion barrier thickness and a large calculated O 2 ‐diffusion capacity suggesting that it functions as the ABO.