Comparative Anatomical Study of Swimbladder in Different Species of Fish

Fish are the most numerous group of vertebrates in the world and their anatomy is still not completely studied. This article is aimed to present the morphological study of swimbladder in different species of ray-finned fish which have industrial value namely Russian sturgeon, American paddlefish (order Acipenseriformes), rainbow trout (order Salmoniformes), northern pike (order Esociformes), zander (order Perciformes) and to compare it’s structure and shape with the swimbladder of common carp (order Cypriniformes). Also the analysis of functions of swimbladder is given. The research was carried out in the Department of Animal Anatomy of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. The study was performed by anatomical dissection on cadavers of 3 fish of each species with further macroscopic examination of swimbladderes. The research showed that in all investigated species this organ has significant differences and is composed of one chamber. The swimbladder of common carp is composed of two chambers (anterior and posterior). Almost all investigated species of fish have connection between the swimbladder and the gut (pneumatic duct), so they are believed to be physostomes. The study highlighted characteristic features of swimbladder in different species of fish that has practical value for better understanding of fish anatomy and possible swimbladder disorders.