The Queensland Lungfish
Basic Facts
Why do Lungfish Need Lungs?
Lungfish have lungs and also set of gills. But why they need lungs, you ask? Well this is because if the water levels in the lake they live in decrease, they are able to breath air to survive. And living in the humid Queensland climate , many fish would need it to survive. But lucky for the lungfish, it is one of the only fish in the world to have lungs, even if it is only one.
But some say that it is so that they can live on land as well, or that later, in their later life, they will grow legs and become a land animal, or maybe it's because they will go through a metamorphosis and turn into a frog thing... but that of course is silly.
The lung is a long sac situated above and extending to the length of the body cavity. Unlike the South-African and African lungfish, the Queensland lungfish only lungfish to breath air when the water doesn't supply it to their needs. the sound of a lungfish breathing is compared to large bellows
Where does it live?
The Queensland lungfish lives in northern Queensland Australia, usually in humid conditions. They live in deep pools in still or slow-flowing water with some aquatic vegetation on the banks. Found in clear or turbid water over mud, sand or gravel substrate. The lungfish is able to survive during periods of low dissolved oxygen such as in stagnant pools during drought by breathing air from the surface every 30 to 60 minutes with it's lung.
The Affect of Human Activity
Humans constantly destro the natural environment. For the Queensland lungfish, humans have potentially made it at risk in much of its core distribution in the Burnett and Mary Rivers as 26% of these river systems are presently impounded by weirs and dams. The process of making dams and irrigation systems make the lungfish in danger of both living in salty water, when it should be in freshwater, and making it live in low water conditions. Even though the lungfish can breath oxygen directlt from the air, it still need water to survive because it is still a fish.
Advanced Facts
Common Name: Queensland Lungfish
Scientific Name: Neoceratodus forsteri
Kingdom: Animalia
Length: 100-150cm (3.3-4.9ft)
Food(Captivity): Frogs, earthworms, pieces of meat and pelleted food.
Food (Wild): Frogs, tadpoles, fishes, a variety of invertebrates and plant material.
Food (Young): algae and tubifex worms.
Predators: Humans and larger fish or animals.
Why do Lungfish Need Lungs?
Lungfish have lungs and also set of gills. But why they need lungs, you ask? Well this is because if the water levels in the lake they live in decrease, they are able to breath air to survive. And living in the humid Queensland climate , many fish would need it to survive. But lucky for the lungfish, it is one of the only fish in the world to have lungs, even if it is only one.
But some say that it is so that they can live on land as well, or that later, in their later life, they will grow legs and become a land animal, or maybe it's because they will go through a metamorphosis and turn into a frog thing... but that of course is silly.
The lung is a long sac situated above and extending to the length of the body cavity. Unlike the South-African and African lungfish, the Queensland lungfish only lungfish to breath air when the water doesn't supply it to their needs. the sound of a lungfish breathing is compared to large bellows
Where does it live?
The Queensland lungfish lives in northern Queensland Australia, usually in humid conditions. They live in deep pools in still or slow-flowing water with some aquatic vegetation on the banks. Found in clear or turbid water over mud, sand or gravel substrate. The lungfish is able to survive during periods of low dissolved oxygen such as in stagnant pools during drought by breathing air from the surface every 30 to 60 minutes with it's lung.
The Affect of Human Activity
Humans constantly destro the natural environment. For the Queensland lungfish, humans have potentially made it at risk in much of its core distribution in the Burnett and Mary Rivers as 26% of these river systems are presently impounded by weirs and dams. The process of making dams and irrigation systems make the lungfish in danger of both living in salty water, when it should be in freshwater, and making it live in low water conditions. Even though the lungfish can breath oxygen directlt from the air, it still need water to survive because it is still a fish.
Advanced Facts
Common Name: Queensland Lungfish
Scientific Name: Neoceratodus forsteri
Kingdom: Animalia
Length: 100-150cm (3.3-4.9ft)
Food(Captivity): Frogs, earthworms, pieces of meat and pelleted food.
Food (Wild): Frogs, tadpoles, fishes, a variety of invertebrates and plant material.
Food (Young): algae and tubifex worms.
Predators: Humans and larger fish or animals.