Question

Anabantoideis are fish with an organ that allows them to take oxygen directly from the air outside of water. However, I cannot find much on how this functions, nor can I find any clear image of what it looks like. Those I do find seems to contradict one another. This image shows what looks like a bubble flowing into a hollow hole. This image shows something very different, a mess of flesh, presumably where oxygen is absorbed and expelled from the gills. This image shows a mess of flesh like before but more similar to intestines, but disconnected to the gills. What images are most accurate, and how does the labyrinth function?

Answer 1

Anabantoids have a specialized structure called the labyrinth organ which allows them to breathe air directly from the atmosphere. This evolutionary adaptation helps them survive in oxygen-poor water conditions. The labyrinth organ, which looks like a complex, maze-like structure, is distinct from the gills and is specialized for gas exchange with atmospheric air.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Labyrinth Organ in Anabantoids Anabantoids, a group of fish including bettas and gouramis, have developed a unique respiratory structure called the labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air. This organ is an evolutionary adaptation that enables fish to survive in low-oxygen water environments. The labyrinth organ, which is not a bubble but a highly folded and vascularized structure, functions similarly to lungs in that it facilitates the direct uptake of oxygen from the air.The images you're seeing may be showing the labyrinth organ from various angles or in different states of dissection, which is why they appear inconsistent. Scientific illustrations should show a complex maze-like structure that allows for gas exchange. Water typically enters through the fish's mouth, passes over the gills where it releases CO2 and picks up oxygen, and then exits the body.

However, in anabantoids, when the oxygen in the water is insufficient, the fish can rise to the surface, take a gulp of air, and pass it over the labyrinth organ to absorb oxygen directly into their bloodstream.Like all bony fishes, they have gills located in chambers protected by the operculum for breathing in water. Their gills function by allowing water to flow over them, facilitating the diffusion of dissolved oxygen into the blood vessels. However, the gills are not the same as the labyrinth organ, which is specifically for air breathing. The labyrinth organ's location and appearance may be what's causing confusion in the images you have seen.