A scanning electron microscope study of the gills of the air‐breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus L.

Using the scanning electron microscope, the gills of the air‐breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus, have been studied. The overall morphology of the gills are similar to other teleosts. In contrast to water‐breathing species, however, microridges are absent from the surfaces of the secondary lamellae and only short microvilli are present. Long, convoluted microridges are present on the epithelial cells of the gill filaments. The possible roles of these structures in relation to water flow are discussed.