Effect of body size on the dimensions of the respiratory organs of a freshwater catfish,Mystus vittatus

The data on gill and skin dimensions of 12 freshwater catfishMystus vittatus ranging from 3 g to 23 g in relation to body weight have been analysed using logarithmic transformation. The exponent value for total gill area was 0.789; corresponding values for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gill arches and skin were 0.753, 0.772, 0.816, 0.823 and 0.631 respectively. The gill diffusing capacity (0.211) was greater than that for skin (0.002).