The article discusses the adaptive modification of the barbel and lip of endangered catfish Amblyceps arunchalensis. It cites the function of the catfishes' sense of taste in acting as a long-range receptor and its spine-like microvilli on the mobility of the mucus. Also emphasized is the important role of their taste buds in searching for food and for their suitability assessment.
Kaushik & Bordoloi (From inside the paper) wrote:In the present study we describe the characteristic differences observed in the structure of lips and barbels of A. arunchalensis...The present study on ultra-surface structure of lips and barbels of the endangered cat fish, A. arunchalensis shows that except distribution of the taste buds, the structures of microvilli and mucus pores are similar to those in other cat fishes.
