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Do fish have lungs?

Published in Fish Anatomy 1 min read

No, fish do not have lungs. They breathe underwater using gills. Gills are specialized organs that extract oxygen from the water and release carbon dioxide. They are located on the sides of the fish's head, behind and to the side of the mouth. Water flows over the gills, and the oxygen in the water diffuses into the blood vessels in the gills.

Some fish, like lungfish, have both gills and lungs. This allows them to survive in environments where water levels are low or even dry. They can breathe air using their lungs when the water is scarce.

However, most fish only have gills and rely on the oxygen dissolved in water. The amount of oxygen in water is much lower than in air, making it more challenging for fish to breathe. This is why fish constantly move their gills to get a continuous supply of oxygen-rich water.


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