The West African lungfish (Protopterus annectens), also known as the Tana lungfish or simply African lungfish, is a species of African lungfish.[1][5] It is found in a wide range of freshwater habitats in West and Middle Africa, as well as the northern half of Southern Africa.[1][5]
Protopterus annectens has a prominent snout and small eyes. Its body is long and eel-like, about 9–15 times the length of the head. It has two pairs of long, filamentous fins. The pectoral fins have a basal fringe and are about three times the head length, while its pelvic fins are about twice the head length. In general, three external gills are inserted posterior to the gill slits and above the pectoral fins.
It has cycloid scales embedded in the skin. About 40–50 scales occur between the operculum and the anus, and 36–40 around the body before the origin of the dorsal fin. It has 34–37 pairs of ribs. The dorsal side is olive or brown in color and the ventral side is lighter, with great blackish or brownish spots on the body and fins except on its belly.[6] West African lungfish can grow up to 1 meter long (3.3 feet) and weigh up to 4 kilograms (9 pounds).[7]
Distributionedit
The West African lungfish is distributed throughout Africa.[8] It has two subspecies; P. a. annectens is found primarily in the basins of Sahel as well as Guinea and Sierra Leone whilst the other subspecies, P. a.brieni is known largely from the upper Congo River area and from the Zambezi of Mozambique.[8]
Habitatedit
Like other African lungfish, the West African lungfish is an obligate air breather and a freshwater-dwelling fish.[8] It is demersal, meaning that it lives primarily buried within riverbeds. Due to the dry season frequently drying the rivers and floodplains in which it lives, the West African lungfish can aestivate for up to a year; however the West African lungfish generally only aestivates between wet seasons.[8]
Dietedit
The Tana lungfish has a diet not unlike other lungfish, consisting of various mollusks, crabs, prawn, and small fish within its distribution.[8] It can also go for up to 3+1⁄2 years without any food intake whatsoever. During this time period it behaves much like an aestivating fish in that it buries itself in the mud and does not move until more favorable conditions occur.[8]
When the African lungfish estivates, it burrows itself 12-18 inches deep into mud and as the mud dries, the mucus that envelops the fish forms a cocoon. The fish then has no direct contact with the outside environment; however, a tube of dried mucus goes into the pharynx of the fish and allows the fish to breathe. The fish usually relies on protein for energy, so the nitrogenous waste of amino acids is converted to urea, which builds up in the tissues and is only excreted when the lungfish returns to the water.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abcDiouf, K.; Snoeks, J.; Lalèyè, P.; Contreras MacBeath, T. (2020). "Protopterus annectens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T169408A135027770. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T169408A135027770.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abcdef"Protopterus annectens summary page". FishBase. from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
^Janssens, P. A. (1964). "The metabolism of the aestivating African lungfish". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 11 (1): 105–117. doi:10.1016/0010-406X(64)90098-2. PMID 14170679.
External linksedit
Photos at Primitivefishes.com
March 07, 2024
west, african, lungfish, this, article, uses, citations, that, link, broken, outdated, sources, please, improve, article, addressing, link, discuss, this, issue, talk, page, january, 2023, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, protopterus, annectens, a. This article uses citations that link to broken or outdated sources Please improve the article by addressing link rot or discuss this issue on the talk page January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The West African lungfish Protopterus annectens also known as the Tana lungfish or simply African lungfish is a species of African lungfish 1 5 It is found in a wide range of freshwater habitats in West and Middle Africa as well as the northern half of Southern Africa 1 5 West African lungfishConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade SarcopterygiiClass DipnoiOrder CeratodontiformesFamily ProtopteridaeGenus ProtopterusSpecies P annectensBinomial nameProtopterus annectens Owen 1839 2 SubspeciesProtopterus annectens annectens Owen 1839 Protopterus annectens brieni Poll 1961Synonyms 3 4 Lepidosiren annectens Owen 1839 Protomelus annectens Owen 1839 Lepidosiren tobal de Castelnau 1855 Protopterus anguilliformis Owen 1841 Rhinocryptis annectens Owen 1839 Protopterus rhinocryptis Gray 1850 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Habitat 4 Diet 5 References 6 External linksDescription editProtopterus annectens has a prominent snout and small eyes Its body is long and eel like about 9 15 times the length of the head It has two pairs of long filamentous fins The pectoral fins have a basal fringe and are about three times the head length while its pelvic fins are about twice the head length In general three external gills are inserted posterior to the gill slits and above the pectoral fins It has cycloid scales embedded in the skin About 40 50 scales occur between the operculum and the anus and 36 40 around the body before the origin of the dorsal fin It has 34 37 pairs of ribs The dorsal side is olive or brown in color and the ventral side is lighter with great blackish or brownish spots on the body and fins except on its belly 6 West African lungfish can grow up to 1 meter long 3 3 feet and weigh up to 4 kilograms 9 pounds 7 Distribution editThe West African lungfish is distributed throughout Africa 8 It has two subspecies P a annectens is found primarily in the basins of Sahel as well as Guinea and Sierra Leone whilst the other subspecies P a brieni is known largely from the upper Congo River area and from the Zambezi of Mozambique 8 Habitat editLike other African lungfish the West African lungfish is an obligate air breather and a freshwater dwelling fish 8 It is demersal meaning that it lives primarily buried within riverbeds Due to the dry season frequently drying the rivers and floodplains in which it lives the West African lungfish can aestivate for up to a year however the West African lungfish generally only aestivates between wet seasons 8 Diet editThe Tana lungfish has a diet not unlike other lungfish consisting of various mollusks crabs prawn and small fish within its distribution 8 It can also go for up to 3 1 2 years without any food intake whatsoever During this time period it behaves much like an aestivating fish in that it buries itself in the mud and does not move until more favorable conditions occur 8 When the African lungfish estivates it burrows itself 12 18 inches deep into mud and as the mud dries the mucus that envelops the fish forms a cocoon The fish then has no direct contact with the outside environment however a tube of dried mucus goes into the pharynx of the fish and allows the fish to breathe The fish usually relies on protein for energy so the nitrogenous waste of amino acids is converted to urea which builds up in the tissues and is only excreted when the lungfish returns to the water 9 nbsp References edit a b c Diouf K Snoeks J Laleye P Contreras MacBeath T 2020 Protopterus annectens IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T169408A135027770 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 2 RLTS T169408A135027770 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 ITIS gov Retrieved May 13 2010 Haaramo Mikko 2007 Ceratodiformes recent lungfishes Mikko s Phylogeny Archive Retrieved 3 July 2016 Froese R Pauly D 2017 Protopteridae FishBase version 02 2017 Retrieved 18 May 2017 a b Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2014 Protopterus annectens in FishBase April 2014 version West African Lungfish San Diego Zoo Animals amp Plants animals sandiegozoo org Retrieved 2023 03 18 West African Lungfish education nationalgeographic org Retrieved 2023 05 16 a b c d e f Protopterus annectens summary page FishBase Archived from the original on 2022 01 25 Retrieved 2015 06 08 Janssens P A 1964 The metabolism of the aestivating African lungfish Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 11 1 105 117 doi 10 1016 0010 406X 64 90098 2 PMID 14170679 External links editPhotos at Primitivefishes com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West African lungfish amp oldid 1183784404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
