African lungfish, (Protopterus sp.)
Introduction: The African lungfishes are the genus Protopterus and constitute the four species of lungfish found in Africa. Protopterus is the sole genus in the family Protopteridae. African lungfish survived unchanged for so long and are characterized by their remarkable adaptations that have helped them survive in a state of estivation during dry season. The species is much appreciated for its rich flavor with its quite fatty caudal area. In general, African lungfish is an aggressive fish and can bite when agitated hence once caught has to be clubbed to pacify it. The lifespan of lungfishes is about 20 years and more.
Distribution and habitats: African lungfish is a freshwater-dwelling fish distributed throughout Africa and generally inhabit shallow waters, such as swamps and marshes and are also found in larger lakes such as Lake…show more content… The species are periodically exposed to water with low oxygen content or situations in which their aquatic environment dries up. Their incredible adaptation allows the fish to counteract this drying of water starting with digging and forming a tunnel and then a bulb-shaped chamber in which the fish spends the dry season. Under such low oxygen situation, the biological adaptation of the lung allows lungfish to also extract oxygen from the air. As the water level in the chamber drops further and fish becomes completely exposed to the air, the fish excretes copious amounts of a special mucous, which dries to form a “cocoon” entering the aestivation state that may last three to five years without food or water. The fish during aestivation remains completely motionless with its metabolic rate turns drastically decreased. Once dry period ends and freshwater surroundings becomes available, aestivated fish awakes and performing its normal
