Lepidosirenidae
Quick Summary
The family Lepidosirenidae comprises the South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa) and African lungfishes (Protopterus species). These fish are characterized by having two functional lungs and an eel-like body form. They possess small scales and their pectoral and pelvic fins are modified into slender, tentacle-like structures.12
Lungfish are remnants of the Devonian period and represent a transitional form between water and air breathers. They are adapted for bimodal respiration, using both gills and lungs to breathe. In environments with low oxygen, they can gulp air from the surface. During dry seasons, Lepidosiren and Protopterus species burrow into mud and enter a state of estivation, significantly reducing their metabolism, respiration, and heart rate to survive for extended periods.34
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