The very name “Lungfish” is rooted in the species’ well-developed lungs. This adaptation allows them to navigate aquatic environments with exceptionally low oxygen levels, a trait scarcely observed among other fish species.
Experts reveal that the Lungfish possesses the astounding capability to endure protracted periods of drought and dire food scarcity, enduring approximately 5 years under such conditions.
Moreover, the Lungfish can withstand periods of desiccation for extended spans, potentially up to 2 years. During times of arid adversity, these resilient creatures burrow themselves into the protective embrace of mud, entering a state of “estivation” or dormancy. In this phase, their metabolic processes dwindle to a mere 1/60th of their typical rate.
To embark on this physiological journey, Lungfishes strategically accumulate substantial water within their lungs prior to impending dry seasons. This reservoir of moisture readies them for the impending phase of “estivation.”
As the heavens open during the onset of the rainy season, the increased moisture rouses the dormant Lungfish from their period of estivation. Their resolute resilience awakens, propelling them back into action, and their life cycle continues as nature intended.
Despite their awe-inspiring adaptations, Lungfishes do bear a curious vulnerability. An ironic limitation within their sophisticated lung system renders them susceptible to drowning if submerged in water for prolonged intervals without access to air. This specialized mechanism, which enables them to breathe air, becomes ineffectual if they are deprived of the surface for respiration. Consequently, protracted submersion sans air access poses an existential threat.
Lungfishes predominantly inhabit Africa, South America, and Australia. Intriguingly, experts assert that these creatures exhibit longer lifespans in controlled environments, often outlasting their natural habitats.
