Yes. Freshwater fish have nostril-like openings called nares (singular: naris). They use them to smell chemicals in the water, not to breathe; oxygen enters through the gills.
What does a fish’s nose do?
A fish’s nares are sensory openings, usually on the snout in front of the eyes. Water carries chemical molecules into the olfactory pits, where sensory tissue detects them and sends signals to the brain. The Australian Museum describes this tissue as a folded olfactory rosette; its shape and structure vary among fish species. Australian Museum: Do fish smell?
Smell can help fish locate food and respond to other chemical cues. The Australian Museum also identifies roles in avoiding predators, finding their way home, recognizing kin and members of their species, and reproductive behavior. These are general functions of fish olfaction, not a claim that every species uses smell in the same way or has the same ability.
Do fish use their noses to breathe?
No. A fish’s nares are not connected to air passages and do not take up oxygen. Fish breathe by moving water over their gills, where oxygen is absorbed. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa describes fish nostrils as sensory structures, and South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources likewise identifies nares as smell-only structures. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa: Structure and Function – Fish · South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: Fish – Anatomy
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How many nostril openings does a fish have?
It depends on what is being counted and on the species. Some explanations refer to a pair of nares—one on each side of the head. In many bony fish, however, each olfactory pit has an inlet and an outlet: water enters through one opening, passes over sensory tissue, and exits through the other. Counting both openings on each side gives four openings in total.
Minnesota DNR’s MinnAqua lesson describes this four-opening arrangement for Minnesota fish. It should not be treated as a universal count for every freshwater fish. Saying that a fish has nares or nostril-like openings is more accurate generally than promising one exact number. Minnesota DNR: Fish Sense
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Do all freshwater fish smell equally well?
No single level of smell or identical nasal arrangement applies to all freshwater fish. The Australian Museum notes variation in olfactory rosette shape and the number of its folds, called lamellae. Species also differ in their olfactory abilities and in how they use chemical cues; the available descriptions do not establish a ranking of freshwater fish by sense of smell. Australian Museum: Do fish smell?
Why “nose” is a useful, but imperfect, word
“Nose” or “nostrils” is a convenient plain-language way to describe the openings fish use to smell. The anatomical term is nares. Unlike a human nose, fish nares do not channel air to the lungs: they serve a sensory function, while the gills handle breathing. The Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development describes fish as having a pair of nostrils called nares that detect odors in water. Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development: Fact Sheet: Fish Anatomy
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