Surface folds in superficial epidermal cells of three species of teleost fish

Scanning electron microscope studies of fish epidermis demonstrate whorled arrangements of microfolds on the surface of superficial epidermal cells in the following species of teleost fish: the guppyfish Poecilia reticulata (Peters), the goldfish Carassius auratus auratus (L.), and the clown anemone fish Amphiprion percula (Lacépède). The pattern is most pronounced in epidermal cells covering the scales, but is also seen in the epidermal cells of the tail and body fins. The whorled pattern was not present on the gill epithelium or the surface of the eyes. These observations differ from transmission electron microscope studies which have described the skin surface as being composed of microvilli.