How do African lungfish detect pressure and turbulence in the water?

African lungfish detect pressure and turbulence in their environment primarily through a specialized sensory system known as the lateral line.1

This system consists of sensory structures that function as a remote sense of touch, allowing the fish to perceive movements and pressure changes in the surrounding water. At the anterior or head end of the African lungfish, these lateral lines are modified into a distinct pattern of intricately interlaced bright lines, which are composed of a series of tiny, bud-shaped terminal organs.231

These sensory organs, called neuromasts, contain hair cells that are stimulated by water displacement. Because African lungfish are nearly blind regarding the perception of form and movement, this highly developed sensitivity to pressure and turbulence is essential for navigating their surroundings and compensating for their limited vision.21