Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, P.O. Box: 9187195786, Iran.
To determine the distribution of external taste buds (TB), 3 specimen each of the two species of aquarium fishes: Walking catfish (Claris batrachus) and Piranha (Serrasalmus nattereri), were studied. In walking catfish TB were in the highest frequencies in lips, barbels, pelvic and dorsal fins but in the piranha the TB was located only in lip epithelium. The mucous cells were observed together with TB in skin and barbels of both species.
Walking catfish, piranha, taste buds
