Labyrinth fish that breathe air
Some fish can use atmospheric air for breathing. In labyrinth fish, an air-breathing labyrinth organ lies above the gill cavity and contains highly vascularized respiratory tissue. The fish rise to the surface and gulp air, helping them obtain oxygen when the water contains little of it. This does not completely replace the gills or mean that every species lives only in swamps.
A labyrinth fish gulps air at the surface — an AI-generated conceptual illustration.
