Australian Lungfish - Meet The Endangered
Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri)
The Australian Lungfish is one of only six remaining lungfishes in the world and the only extant species in Australia. It is a living fossil, a remnant of a much larger radiation of species that evolved over 400 million years ago - making it one of the oldest vertebrates on the planet.
These massive fish can reach lengths of 1.5 m (5 ft) and weigh up to 40 kg (90 lbs). They are slow-moving and sport both gills and a single lung, which serves as a backup source of oxygen when water becomes stagnant.
The Australian Lungfish reproduces and completes its entire life cycle in freshwater systems. Barriers to free movement like weirs and dams are significant threats. Population levels are currently stable, but the fish’s range is limited to just two small river systems in Queensland.
IUCN: Endangered (EN)
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