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capillaries are distributed over this structure. The fish comes to surface of
water and takes bubbles of air which then enter the aforesaid cavity or
chamber. Haemoglobin of the blood corpuscles having come in contact
with the air, oxygenation of the blood is achieved. This labyrinthic
structure is an accessory respiratory organ, the normal one being the gills.
But these gills in this climbing perch are reduced in size and the fish
depends largely on aerial respiration. On account of this specialisation, the
fish can remain out of water for hours together in moist condition and can
travel on land.
The fish occurs in ponds in the coastal area. Though it forms an important
fishery in Bengal where it is known as ' Koi’, the fish is available only in
small numbers in Maharashtra.
(15) GOBIES
Freshwater Gobies in Maharashtra are represented only by a single genus
Glassogobius with two species, G. guiris and G. bombayensis. Both are
known as 'Kharbi’, G. guiris is important because of its wide-spread
distribution and common occurrence. It has a comparatively large mouth
and sharp teeth. Having fewer bones it is popular as food fish. It is a
slender elongated fish and grows to about 30 cm. in length and 300 gm. in
weight. It is carnivorous in habits and breeds in small ponds and
reservoirs.
(16) MURRELS
Murrels, by far, form the most important and a very valuable group of
fishes occurring in fresh waters of Maharashtra especially from point of
view of general popularity as food fish in inland tracts. The popularity can
largely be ascribed to the flavour of their flesh and presence of fewer
bones. They are known in English as Snakeheaded fish because of their
snake-like head and elongated body. They have accessory respiratory
organs and can take bubbles of air from surface of water to supplement
their oxygen requirements. They thus frequent the surface of water and
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