COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE GILL AREA OF MARINE FISHES

Abstract

A study of 31 spp. of marine teleosts shows that there are marked spp. differences in gill area per unit of body weight and per unit of body surface area. Typical gill areas, in square millimeters per gram of body weight, are: menhaden 1773, common mackerel 1158, jumping mullet 954, butterfish 598, scup 506, sea robin 483, puffer 470, common eel 302, fluke 242, toadfish 197. The extent of gill area is correlated with habit and habitat. Active, fast swimming, schooling, streamlined fishes have relatively much greater gill area than do sluggish, benthic spp. Moderately active fishes occupy an intermediate position__I. E. Gray.