Cutaneous taste buds in cod

The distribution of cutaneous taste buds was determined quantitatively in larvae, juveniles and young adults of cod, using scanning electron microscopy. Changes in these distributions associated with development were followed in laboratory reared fish. Taste buds were first seen on the snout and lips of cod at a total length of 8 mm, and on the barbel at a length of 22 mm. The highest taste bud densities were seen at a length of around 90 mm, and subsequently declined on the barbel and pelvic fins with further growth. In these late 0-group fish, mean taste bud densities over much of the head, e.g. throat, dentary and sides of the snout were