It's all in the gills: evaluation of O2 uptake in Pacific hagfish refutes a major respiratory role for the skin.

Hagfish skin has been reported as an important site for ammonia excretion and as the major site of systemic oxygen acquisition. However, whether cutaneous O uptake is the dominant route of uptake remains under debate; all evidence supporting this hypothesis has been derived using indirect measurements. Here, we used partitioned chambers and direct measurements of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion to quantify cutaneous and branchial exchanges in Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) at rest and following exhaustive exercise.