Development of lip protrusion in trahira, Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794), associated with aquatic surface respiration

By

S. F. Medeiros, Elvio
Monteiro, Mayara Mirelly Da Silva
Costa, Silvia Yasmin Lustosa
Falkenberg, Julia Martini
Ramos, Telton Pedro Anselmo

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-05-29

Original Publication

Neotropical Biology and Conservation

Volume

20

Pages

103--113

Subjects

drylands , fish physiology , Hypoxia , intermittent streams

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Brazil Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.20.e146972

 

Abstract

The histological organization of labial development of trahira Hoplias malabaricus found in a drying pool was compared with normal fish from a similar environment. It was found that labial development was not associated with any visible histological change in key tissues. We hypothesize that the fish had been recently trapped in the pool (for a few weeks) and did not have the time to respond to the stressful conditions, and that the labial development was not associated with increase in respiration surface area but rather may serve to channel oxygen-rich surface water more efficiently into the mouth chamber.