Spiracle

The injection hole ( spiracle lat = air hole ) is a converted gill opening with most sharks and rays all that lies behind the eyes of each of the animals. It serves to draw in breath water and this be passed through a channel in the gills, so that the oxygen contained therein can be used for the metabolism.

Especially with the most basic ground-dwelling sharks and skates tidal water is almost exclusively taken up through the spray holes, because it would cause various mud and sand would be included as a result of under constant jaw. In the rays the spray holes are for this reason on the dorsal side, while the Kiemenausströmöffnungen located on the ventral side.

A paired spiracle also have the most low bone fish, although not necessarily for inhalation, such as sturgeons and bichirs. ( In most cases it is a sensory organ that is brought in connection with the hearing. ) For genuine bony fish ( Teleostei ), there is of course not ( 'more' ) before.

The spiracle of anurans is an unpaired hole gills on the ventral side or left side of tadpoles.