Synopsis
Several lines of circumstantial evidence suggest that striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, use the upper posterior portion of the pharynx for aerial respiration, the air obtained either by jumping, rolling, or holding the head above the water and moving the air into the upper pharyngeal chamber. The principle evidence is that jumping frequencies are inversely correlated with dissolved oxygen concentration, and that the pharyngobranchial organ is capable of holding gas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References cited
Brusle, J. 1970. Food and feeding in grey mullet. pp. 185–217. In: O.H. Oren (ed.) Aquaculture of Grey mullets, University of California Press, Berkeley.
Burggren, W.W. 1982. ‘Air gulping’ improves blood oxygen transport during aquatic hypoxia in the goldfish, Carassius auratus. Physiol. Zool. 55: 327–334.
Capanna, E. S. Cataudella & G. Monaco. 1974. The pharyngeal structure of Mediterranean Mugilidae. Monitore Zool. Italy (New Series) 8: 29–46.
Cech, J.J. & D.E. Wohlschlag. 1973. Respiratory responses of the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus (L.), to hypoxic conditions. J. Fish Biol. 5: 421–428.
Cech, J.J. & D.E. Wohlschlag. 1982. Seasonal patterns of respiration, gill ventilation, and hematological characteristics in the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus L. Bull. Mar. Sci. 5: 130–138.
Costin, A.B. 1954. Observations on fish mortality and river pollution. Ecology 35: 580.
Gray, I.E. 1954. Comparative study of the gill area of marine fishes. Biol. Bull. (Woods Hole) 107: 219–225.
Gunter, G. 1945. Studies on marine fishes of Texas. Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci. Univ. Tex. 1: 1–190.
Holder, C.F. 1903. Why and how fishes leap. Sci. Amer. 88: 151–152.
Hora, S.L. 1938. Notes on the biology of the freshwater grey mullet, Mugil corsula Hamilton, with observations on the probable mode of origin of aerial vision in fishes. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 40: 61–68.
Kramer, D.L. 1983. Aquatic surface respiration in the fishes of Panama: distribution in relation to risk of hypoxia. Env. Biol. Fish. 8: 49–54.
Kramer, D.L. & M. McClure. 1982. Aquatic surface respiration, a widespread adaptation to hypoxia in tropical freshwater fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 7: 47–55.
Kutty, M.N. & M.P. Mohamed. 1975. Metabolic adaptations of mullet, Rhinomugil corsula (Hamilton) with special reference to energy utilization. Aquaculture 5: 253–270.
Lewis, W.N. 1970. Morphological adapatations of cyprinodontoids for inhabiting oxygen deficient waters. Copeia 1970: 319–326.
McFarland, W.N. & S.A. Moss. 1967. Internal behavior in fish schools. Science 56: 260–262.
Moore, R.H. 1970. Changes in the composition of the swimbladder gas of the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, during hypoxia. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 34: 895–898.
Moore, R.H. 1976. Seasonal patterns in the respiratory metabolism of the mullets, Mugil cephalus and Mugil curema. Contr. Mar. Sci. 20: 133–146.
Odum, W.E. 1968. The ecological significance of fine particle selection by the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 13: 92–97.
Potter, G.E. 1927. Respiratory function of the swim bladder in Lepidosteus. J. Exp. Zool. 49: 45–67.
Thomson, J.M. 1966. The grey mullets. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. 4: 301–335.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoese, H.D. Jumping mullet — the internal diving bell hypothesis. Environ Biol Fish 13, 309–314 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002915
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002915