Fish

[Matheous-2]

Does anyone think or know whether fish 'hold their breath' when jumping out of the water. Has that even been studied?

[ChuckFickens]

They don't have lungs to hold the breath they also don't have.

[Matheous-2]

I do appreciate that gills extract oxygen from water but wouldn't it be painful or even possible for a fish brain to stop such a motor function?
I hope that makes sense.....

[wildwood]

Just as we can dive under water and hold our breath for a limited time, so can fish when out of water. For their size they can live quite a long time out of water, 5 minutes or more for a 5" fish as I remember from my fishing days. Some also absorb some oxygen through their skin and can travel overland to other pools/water.

There are some fish that have actual lungs and can breath air like a mammal, often in conjunction with gills. They usually live in soupy water with a low oxygen content.

[jomifl]

Almost all fish do not have lungs (as Chuck pointed out) except for 'lung fish' which are a very small minority. Some fish that live in water with low oxygen levels 'gulp'air when in extremis. Fish respiration in all it's forms has been studied extensively.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish#Respiration

[Matheous-2]

Thanks to all again!