Anatomical studies of the olfactory epithelium of two cave fishes Sinocyclocheilus jii and S. furcodorsalis (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from China

The olfactory epithelium of cavefish, Sinocyclocheilus jii and S. furcodorsalis were studied on a scanning electron microscope. Twenty six lamellae are in the rosette of S. jii and twenty four lamellae in S. furcodorsalis. The olfactory epithelium of S. jii visualizes two types of receptor cells (i) Ciliated sensory with microvillus (ii) Ciliated non-sensory cells. Rod cells and chloride cells were recognized in the olfactory epithelium of S. furcodorsalis, also having receptor cells of two types, ciliated sensory with microvillus and ciliated non-sensory cells in the form of patches. Supporting cells, rod cells, chloride cells, and blood cells were frequently occurring. On the surface of the olfactory lamellae cells correlate with the functional significance of the fish concerned.