SURFACE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SKIN OF THE INDIAN CATFISH, BAGARIUS-BAGARIUS (HAMILTON) (SISORIDAE, SILURIFORMES)

The skin surface of Bagarius bagarius was observed primarily by SEM. T he epidermis was differentiated into polyhedral, epidermal plaques, se parated by deep epidermal furrows. These structures showed significant modifications, associated with their physiological status, in their s urface architecture, the epidermal plaques being keratinized and the f urrows non-keratinized and mucogenic. The epithelial cells of the kera tinized plaques supported projections of fine bristles (unculi). Mucou s cells and taste buds were absent. In the non-keratinized mucogenic f urrows, the epithelial cells were characterized by intricate patterns of microridges, mucous cells being irregularly distributed and taste b uds generally located on epidermal protuberances. The boundaries separ ating adjacent, keratinized epithelial cells appeared more distinct th an those of the non-keratinized mucogenic epithelial cells. The struct ural peculiarities in the surface sculpture of the skin of B. bagarius apparently reflect functional adaptations.