ECOMORPHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF OLFACTORY APPARATUS IN AMPHIPNUOUS CUCHIA (HAMILTON, 1822)

Abstract

Amphipnuous cuchia (Hamilton, 1822) is a mud-dwelling teleost that leads an amphibious mode of life on freshwater mudflats of South East Asia. This short research contribution is aimed to address the question, ‘What are the ecomorphological adaptations of peripheral olfactory apparatus of A. cuchia in context to its amphibious mode of life?’ The macro- and microanatomy of olfactory apparatus in A. cuchia has been studied under the light microscope (LM). Macro- and microanatomical modifications in olfactory apparatus are noted in respect to unilamellar nature of olfactory apparatus, subdivision of ciliated and nonciliated zones in pseudostratified olfactory neuroepithelium, distinct differentiation of cellular arrangements, etc. These structural modifications in peripheral olfactory apparatus of A. cuchia are suggestive of morphological adaptation for its amphibious mode of life.