Marine Science Faculty Publications
Do Squid Breathe through Their Skin?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2018
Keywords
Cutaneous respiration, Cephalopod, Metabolism, Oxygen, Ammonia, Gas exchange
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.185553
Abstract
Squid are thought to obtain a large portion of their oxygen via simple diffusion across the skin in addition to uptake at the gills. Although this hypothesis has support from indirect evidence and is widely accepted, no empirical examinations have been conducted to assess the validity of this hypothesis. In this study, we examined cutaneous respiration in two squid species, Doryteuthis pealeii and Lolliguncula brevis, using a divided chamber to physically separate the mantle cavity and gills from the outer mantle surface. We measured oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates in the two compartments and found that, at rest, squid only obtain enough oxygen cutaneously to meet the demand of the skin tissue locally (12% of total) and excrete little ammonia across the skin. The majority of oxygen is obtained via the traditional branchial pathway. In light of these findings, we re-examine and discuss the indirect evidence that has supported the cutaneous respiration hypothesis.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 221, art. jeb185553
Scholar Commons Citation
Birk, Matthew A.; Dymowska, Agnieszka K.; and Seibel, Brad A., "Do Squid Breathe through Their Skin?" (2018). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1271.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1271
