Anthony P. Farrell Diane G. Elliott 2011 The integument or skin is the envelope that not only separates and protects a fish from its environment, but also provides the means through which most contacts with the outer world are made. It is a large organ and is continuous with the linings of all body openings, and also covers the fins. Fish integument is a multifunctional organ, and its components may serve important roles in protection, communication, sensory perception, locomotion, respiration, ion regulation, excretion, and thermal regulation. application/pdf 10.1016/B978-0-12-374553-8.00285-9 en Elsevier The skin: The many functions of fish integument chapter