An Introduction to Lungfish
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Author(s): beblondie (Anne)
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Xander (Alexander Eng)
*** All Information Copyright 2010 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2010 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.
No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Lungfish Evolution and Natural History
The Dipnoi are a subclass of sarcopterygiian fish, are are commonly known as the lungfish.They are orginaly believed to have evolved in marine enviroments during the devonian period(400 mya).
These early lungfish consisted of as many as 10 families, 50 genera and some 100 species according to fossil records.
These early lungfish looked quite different than today's remaining species. Early lungfish had dual dorsal fins, fleshy paired fins, and showed no teeth on the jaw bones but instead had teeth fused to heavy tooth plates used for crushing prey. Later as they moved into freshwater enviroments many changes occured the first dorsal fin dissapeared and the remaining dorsal fused with the cadual and anal fin forming a symetrical tail and some bones were replaced with cartillage.
During the Carboniferous period (290mya) many of the lungfish species disappear and are known only from Fossils. Lungfish burrows of Gnathorhiza have been found in rocks as old as the Permian, with the lungfish still inside, and older (empty) burrows are known from the Carboniferous and Devonian. The oldest fossil dipnoan is Diabolichthyes, from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan, China. It is not clear whether this particular fish was marine or lived in freshwater like modern lungfish, but both marine and freshwater fossils of other groups are known.This indicates estavation occured as early as the Devonian period.
Fossil records show that Ceratodontidae (Austrailian) family appeared during the Triassic period (245mya)and were widespread by the Mezzoic period (65 mya), with fossil remains being found on all continents. Some species being as large as 16ft in length and weighing as much as 200 pluslbs. The "modern"genus neoceratodus of the Australian lungfish arose in the early Cretaceous period (145mya) originally consisted of 7 species, of which only 1 - Neoceratodus forsteri - still exists today and is now confined to a small section of southern Queensland in slow moving portions of the Burnett and Mary river systems.
The Lepidosirenid lungfish of Africa and South America can be dated back to the Carboniferous period (290mya)the existing members of the genera did not appear until the Eocene period(54mya) and the Miocene period(23mya)on the same continents where they occur today.
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Xander (Alexander Eng)
*** All Information Copyright 2010 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2010 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.
No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Lungfish Evolution and Natural History
The Dipnoi are a subclass of sarcopterygiian fish, are are commonly known as the lungfish.They are orginaly believed to have evolved in marine enviroments during the devonian period(400 mya).
These early lungfish consisted of as many as 10 families, 50 genera and some 100 species according to fossil records.
These early lungfish looked quite different than today's remaining species. Early lungfish had dual dorsal fins, fleshy paired fins, and showed no teeth on the jaw bones but instead had teeth fused to heavy tooth plates used for crushing prey. Later as they moved into freshwater enviroments many changes occured the first dorsal fin dissapeared and the remaining dorsal fused with the cadual and anal fin forming a symetrical tail and some bones were replaced with cartillage.
During the Carboniferous period (290mya) many of the lungfish species disappear and are known only from Fossils. Lungfish burrows of Gnathorhiza have been found in rocks as old as the Permian, with the lungfish still inside, and older (empty) burrows are known from the Carboniferous and Devonian. The oldest fossil dipnoan is Diabolichthyes, from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan, China. It is not clear whether this particular fish was marine or lived in freshwater like modern lungfish, but both marine and freshwater fossils of other groups are known.This indicates estavation occured as early as the Devonian period.
Fossil records show that Ceratodontidae (Austrailian) family appeared during the Triassic period (245mya)and were widespread by the Mezzoic period (65 mya), with fossil remains being found on all continents. Some species being as large as 16ft in length and weighing as much as 200 pluslbs. The "modern"genus neoceratodus of the Australian lungfish arose in the early Cretaceous period (145mya) originally consisted of 7 species, of which only 1 - Neoceratodus forsteri - still exists today and is now confined to a small section of southern Queensland in slow moving portions of the Burnett and Mary river systems.
The Lepidosirenid lungfish of Africa and South America can be dated back to the Carboniferous period (290mya)the existing members of the genera did not appear until the Eocene period(54mya) and the Miocene period(23mya)on the same continents where they occur today.
Author(s): beblondie (Anne)
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Xander (Alexander Eng)
*** All Information Copyright 2010 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2010 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.
No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Estivation (other wise known as Aestivation)
The lungfishes are a truly ancient group of vertebrates, known from fossils dating to at least the lower Devonian, some 408 million years ago. All members of the family Protopteridae and Lepidosirenidae are capable of aestivation the Ausrailian lungfish considered the most primitive
of the lungfishes cannot.
Many lungfishes that live in aestival ponds (ponds existing only in the wet seasons) in order to survive go thru aestivation (dormancy during the
dry season). As the temperatures rise and the water levels recede, the lungfish burrows down into the muddy bottom from several inches to several feet depending on their size then bends its body into a U shape so its head and tail are at the top of the opening. They then secrete a mucous coating surrounding themselves leaving a small opening as an air passage.
During this time the metabolic rate slows. The mucous "cocoon" hardens
preventing them from drying out (they are capable of staying in this state for up to 2 years). When the rains return and the water levels rise the
water softens the "cocoon" and the lungfish emerges thin and hungry its stored supply of fat gone they begin hunting and will eat all they can as
they begin to build fat stores for the next dry season.
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Xander (Alexander Eng)
*** All Information Copyright 2010 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2010 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.
No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Estivation (other wise known as Aestivation)
The lungfishes are a truly ancient group of vertebrates, known from fossils dating to at least the lower Devonian, some 408 million years ago. All members of the family Protopteridae and Lepidosirenidae are capable of aestivation the Ausrailian lungfish considered the most primitive
of the lungfishes cannot.
Many lungfishes that live in aestival ponds (ponds existing only in the wet seasons) in order to survive go thru aestivation (dormancy during the
dry season). As the temperatures rise and the water levels recede, the lungfish burrows down into the muddy bottom from several inches to several feet depending on their size then bends its body into a U shape so its head and tail are at the top of the opening. They then secrete a mucous coating surrounding themselves leaving a small opening as an air passage.
During this time the metabolic rate slows. The mucous "cocoon" hardens
preventing them from drying out (they are capable of staying in this state for up to 2 years). When the rains return and the water levels rise the
water softens the "cocoon" and the lungfish emerges thin and hungry its stored supply of fat gone they begin hunting and will eat all they can as
they begin to build fat stores for the next dry season.
Author(s): Xander (Alexander Eng)
Photos by:
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Xander
*** All Information Copyright 2010 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2010 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.
No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Basic information on Lungfish
Order:
Ceratodontiformes
Family:
Ceratodontidae
Genus:
Neoceratodus
Neoceratodus forsteri - Queensland Lungfish
Distribution:
"N.forsteri is native to the Mary and Burnett River systems in southeastern Queensland (western Australia)" (primitivefishes.com)
Order:
Lepidosireniformes
Family:
Protopteridae
Genus:
Protopterus
Protopterus aethiopicus - Marbled Lungfish
Protopterus amphibius - East African Lungfish
Protopterus annectens - African Lungfish
Protopterus dolloi - Slender Lungfish
Family:
Lepidosirenidae
Genus:
Lepidosiren
Lepidosiren paradoxa - South American Lungfish
References:
Primitivefishes.com
Photos by:
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Xander
*** All Information Copyright 2010 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2010 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.
No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.
Basic information on Lungfish
Order:
Ceratodontiformes
Family:
Ceratodontidae
Genus:
Neoceratodus
Neoceratodus forsteri - Queensland Lungfish
Distribution:
"N.forsteri is native to the Mary and Burnett River systems in southeastern Queensland (western Australia)" (primitivefishes.com)
Order:
Lepidosireniformes
Family:
Protopteridae
Genus:
Protopterus
Protopterus aethiopicus - Marbled Lungfish
Protopterus amphibius - East African Lungfish
Protopterus annectens - African Lungfish
Protopterus dolloi - Slender Lungfish
Family:
Lepidosirenidae
Genus:
Lepidosiren
Lepidosiren paradoxa - South American Lungfish
References:
Primitivefishes.com
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