• Cutaneous respiration refers to the exchange of gases which occurs through the from the skin while pulmonary respiration refers to the exchange of gases through the lungs.

• Cutaneous respiration is generally considered as a secondary mode of respiration while pulmonary respiration is considered to be the sole mode of respiration. Some organisms like frogs have the ability to breathe through the skin and also have lungs.

• Cutaneous respiration can be observed mainly in insects and amphibians while pulmonary respiration can be observed in mammals.