Question:

Which of the following organ found in bony fishes keeps them floating in water without much expenditure of energy?

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Air bladder = buoyancy control organ in bony fishes.
Updated On: Jul 18, 2026
  • Gills
  • Air bladder
  • Bursa fabricii
  • Diphycercal caudal fin
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding buoyancy in fishes.
Bony fishes need to maintain their position in water without sinking or floating uncontrollably. This requires regulation of body density relative to water.

Step 2: Role of air bladder.
The air bladder (swim bladder) is a gas-filled organ that helps fishes maintain buoyancy. It allows them to stay at different water depths without energy expenditure.

Step 3: Mechanism of function.
By adjusting gas volume inside the bladder, fish can increase or decrease buoyancy. This reduces the need for constant swimming to stay afloat.

Step 4: Evaluation of other options.
Gills are used for respiration, bursa fabricii is found in birds, and diphycercal caudal fin is for locomotion, not buoyancy control.

Step 5: Biological advantage.
The air bladder helps conserve energy and improves survival efficiency in aquatic habitats by enabling neutral buoyancy.

Step 6: Final conclusion.
Thus, the air bladder is responsible for floating in bony fishes.
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