SLENDER
AFRICAN LUNGFISH

Photo courtesy of The Lungfish Website

 
 
 
 
 
Name: Slender African Lungfish
Scientific name: Protopterus annectens
Range: West & South Africa
Habitat: swamps and small rivers
Status: Not threatened
Diet in the wild: frogs and small fish
Diet in the zoo: krill
Location in the zoo:  James R. Record Aquarium
Physical description: They range in size from 60 to 200 cm. The African lungfish has two lungs which enables them to breath when the water has dried up. The heart of the lungfish contains four separate chambers:  both the atrium and the ventricle are partially divided.  
General information: There are four African lungfish species. The P.anncetens, however is the most common in aquariums. Lungfish are carnivores and are best kept in their own tank. They are considered to be fearless and they will attack almost anything that moves, including the hands of humans. Lungfish are rarely imported and they may be considered illegal in some states. The lungfish can survive in almost any type of water conditions, as well as an area that has a low supply of oxygen. 

Photo courtesy of The Lungfish Website
Special anatomical, physiological or behavioral adaptations: Although there is very dry climate in Africa, the African lungish is able to survive drought by "hibernation". The African lungfish digs itself into a mud hole and curls up in a chamber that is lined with mucus and breaths out of the mouth. During this time the mud hardens and the lungfish remains there until the next rainfall. However, sometimes this can be deadly for the lungfish, because the urine can posion its body. When it is time for spawning, males are said to have breathing in the form of threadlike appendages. The females lay their eggs in dug-out holes, while the male guard the eggs with all his might. 
Comments about the African lungfish of the Fort Worth Zoo.
 If you watch the lungfish for a while you will be able to see them rise to the top to get some oxygen. The African lungish is not very active and is best off when he is left alone. Also the African lungfish is able to survive in dry climate because it burries its self in mud. The African lungfish resides in the aquarium with smaller fish and is not too active. 
Personal Observations:
By observing the slender African lungish I discovered that this fish is very aggresive and is best off left alone. The African lungfish seems to me to always be thinking of ways to escape from the tank or attack someone. This may seem crazy or bizarre but that is how I feel when I stare at it for a while. 
 

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Lungfish photograph courtesy of the 
The Oregon Zoo

Source Materials and Related Links:

Lungfish at the Oregon Zoo
Report on Lungfish at the University of Michigan
Lungfish Species

 Ceratodus, The Australian Lungfish by Lionel Lambkin (this book didn't have anything to do with African lungfish, however I did get a few ideas from this book that is why I listed it.) 
The Biology and Evolution of Lungfishes: A Centennial Supplement to the Journal of Morphology by Gans, Carl 1923- 
and The American Society of Zoologists. 

Page author: LaShawnda Brown 
shatapoo@hotmail.com

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