External gills

What Are External Gills?

External gills are special breathing parts that some animals have. They are like tiny, feathery branches that stick out from the heads of baby animals. These gills help the animals get oxygen from the water. Animals with external gills do not hide their gills inside their bodies like fish do.

Where Do We Find Them?

You can find external gills on baby salamanders and their relatives. For example, the axolotl has three pairs of external gills that look like delicate branches. Even the babies of frogs have external gills for a short time before they hatch. Some salamanders, like the olm and mudpuppies, keep their external gills their whole lives because they stay in the water and never grow up to breathe air.

Why Are They Important?

External gills are very important for helping these animals breathe. They are made of thin, delicate parts that let the animal take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. The gills can even move to stir the water, helping the animal get more oxygen. Scientists study external gills to learn how animals breathe and change over time.