GILL RESPIRATORY AREA IN THE PELAGIC SCULPINS OF LAKE BAIKAL, COTTOCOMEPHORUS-INERMIS AND C-GREWINGKI (COTTIDAE)

Morphometric investigations of the gill apparatus in the pelagic Baika l sculpins (Cottocomephorinae) reveal a relatively large gill respirat ory area (GRSA). Allometric relationship between GRSA and body weight is expressed by the equation: Y = 746.61W0.918 for C. inermis and that Y = 655.68W0.913 for C. grewingki. In calculations per body weight un it the GRSA values C. inermis are a little higher than those in C. gre wingki. Obtained numerical data seem to be in accordance with differen ce in biological activity of species examined. Their GRSA is several t imes larger than that in previously examined the bathypelgaic Comephor us dybowskii and deep bottom dweller Cottinella boulengeri.