noun
branchial respiration; gill breathing
Biological term for respiration through gills, as in fish and some amphibians.
魚はえら呼吸で水中の酸素を取り込む。
Fish take in oxygen from the water through gill breathing.
両生類の幼生はえら呼吸を行う。
Amphibian larvae perform branchial respiration.
Compound of えら (gills) and 呼吸 (respiration). The word えら is of native Japanese origin, while 呼吸 is a Sino-Japanese term.