. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative; Physiology, Comparative. RESPIRATION IN FISHES. 249 orifices just described. Fishes, in common with other animals that breathe by gills, can only respire properly, when these are kept moist, and are so spread out as to expose their surface to the sur- rounding element. The act of respiration can take place when they are exposed to air, provided these conditions are fulfilled; but in general it happens that, when a Fish is taken out of water, its gills clog together and dry up, so that the air cannot exert any action upon them; and the Fish actually
. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative; Physiology, Comparative. RESPIRATION IN FISHES. 249 orifices just described. Fishes, in common with other animals that breathe by gills, can only respire properly, when these are kept moist, and are so spread out as to expose their surface to the sur- rounding element. The act of respiration can take place when they are exposed to air, provided these conditions are fulfilled; but in general it happens that, when a Fish is taken out of water, its gills clog together and dry up, so that the air cannot exert any action upon them; and the Fish actually dies of suffocation, under the circumstances which are necessary to the life of an air- breathing animal. 318. There are certain Fishes, however, which are provided with an apparatus, somewhat resembling that which has been already described in the Land-crab, for keeping the gills moist. The bones of the pharynx are extended and twisted in such a remarkable manner, as to form a number of small cavities. These cavities, the Fish can fill with water; and they form a reservoir of fluid, from which the gills may be supplied with a sufficient amount, to keep them moist during some time. The gill-filaments themselves are so arranged that they do not clog to- gether ; and by this com- bination of contrivances, the species of Fish that are furnished with it can live for a long time out of Water, SO as to be able to FlG- 149—Respiratory Apparatus of Anabas. journey for a considerable distance on land. Such a provision is. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Carpenter, William Benjamin, 1813-1885. London : Wm. S. Orr and Co.
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