Journal
BIOLOGY LETTERS
Volume 10, Issue 12, Pages -Publisher
ROYAL SOC
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0823
Keywords
inflation; metabolic rate; oxygen uptake; predator defence; pufferfish; cutaneous
Categories
Funding
- AIMS@JCU Pilot Research grant
- Australian Institute of Marine Science
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The inflation response of pufferfishes is one of the most iconic predator defence strategies in nature. Current dogma suggests that pufferfish inflation represents a breath-holding response, whereby gill oxygen uptake ceases for the duration of inflation and cutaneous respiration increases to compensate. Here, we show that the black-saddled pufferfish (Canthigaster valentini) has an excellent capacity for oxygen uptake while inflated, with uptake rates increasing to five-times that of resting levels. Moreover, we show that this species has negligible capacity for cutaneous respiration, concluding that the gills are the primary site of oxygen uptake while inflated. Despite this, post-deflation recovery of aerobic metabolism took an average of 5.6 h, suggesting a contribution of anaerobic metabolism during pre-inflation activity and during the act of ingesting water to achieve inflation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available