African lungfish

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African lungfish

Illustration showing four lungfish species: the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), African lungfish (Protopterus annectens), South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa), and the extinct Devonian lungfish (Dipterus), each with distinct body shapes and fin structures.

Illustration of an African lungfish (Protopterus annectens) showing its elongated, spotted body and thin, filament-like fins, with a scale bar indicating a length of up to 30 centimeters or 12 inches.

African lungfish

fish

Also known as: Protopterus

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Learn about this topic in these articles:

dormancy
Fishes and amphibians
Lungfishes, as represented by the African lungfish (Protopterus), burrow deeply into the mud when their water supply is diminished. They surround themselves with a cocoon of slime and remain inactive. Their gills are nonfunctional during this period of dormancy, and they use a lunglike air bladder for respiratory purposes. They…
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Lungfishes, as represented by the African lungfish (Protopterus), burrow deeply into the mud when their water supply is diminished. They surround themselves with a cocoon of slime and remain inactive. Their gills are nonfunctional during this period of dormancy, and they use a lunglike air bladder for respiratory purposes. They…
Read More

lungfish
Size range and distribution
Of the African lungfishes, the yellow marbled Ethiopian species, Protopterus aethiopicus, is the largest, growing to a length of 2 metres (about 7 feet). The South American species, Lepidosiren paradoxa, reaches a length of 1.25 metres (about 4 feet).
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Of the African lungfishes, the yellow marbled Ethiopian species, Protopterus aethiopicus, is the largest, growing to a length of 2 metres (about 7 feet). The South American species, Lepidosiren paradoxa, reaches a length of 1.25 metres (about 4 feet).
Read More