Glossary – Labyrinth Organ
A labyrinth organ is an accessory respiration organ in some fishes that allows them to breath oxygen from air, which can come in pretty useful if oxygen levels get depleted in the tank, or it becomes polluted.
It is located in the head just behind the gills, and resembles a maze which traps air in its’ many folds. The oxygen from this air is then absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the labyrinth organ.
Fish with the labyrinth organ belong to the sub-order Anabantoidei, and are generally known as anabantoids or labyrinth fishes. Probably the most famous of these are the Siamese fighting fish (betta) and the Paradise fish, followed by the Gouramis.
Labyrinth fish are generally found in East, Southeast, and South Asia, especially but not exclusively in the warm, slow-flowing, low-oxygen waters. In Africa, significantly smaller numbers of labyrinth fish can be found in the lower half of the continent, with concentrations in the rainforest waters.
