Abstract
The barbels of a marine catfish, Arius thalassinus (RUPP.) have been studied. Each barbel is composed of epidermis, dermis and a central rod of cartilage. The epidermis has a stratified epithelium. It contains abundant cutaneous taste buds and a few, small club cells. The mucous cells are not seen. The dermis incloses blood vessels and nerves. The axial, supporting, skeletal rod is cartilaginous in nature. The barbels are of stiff, and flexible type. The various histological constituents have been explicitly discussed.
