Sturgeon gill, photograph

Michael Frank, Royal College of Surgeons

Wellcome Collection

A close-up photograph shows the internal structure of a sturgeon gill against a black background. The gill filaments are visible, with fleshy tissue and bone structures at the top. Gill of Acipenser sturio, also known as the Common, Atlantic or European sturgeon. This species is sea-migrating and spends most of it adult life in the shallow waters of estuaries. The structure of the sturgeon gill differs from that of general osseous (bony) fish in the curve of the branchial arch (gill arch) and the pairs of laminae which are united for greater length.