Did you know?
Unlike the African and South American lungfish, the Australian lungfish only has one sack-shaped lung. When there is a drought they are unable to burrow into the mud or move across dry land, so that if its habitat dries out the fish cannot survive. In contrast to its African and South American cousins the Australian lungfish has hardly changed over millions of years, and is therefore regarded as a living fossil.
Characteristics
| Classification | Australian lungfish and relatives, family Australian lungfish, only species |
|---|---|
| Diet | Aquatic snails, crustaceans, worms, fishes and plants |
| Habitat | Stagnant and lotic waters with intensive plant growth |
| Reproduction | Eggs are laid inside spawn lumps on plants; hatchlings after 21 – 30 days; maximum age: 60 years |
Status according to Red List
More information you will get on the web page of the IUCN Red List.
