Marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus aethiopicus) fish species and information / pictures of Marbled lungfish - Protopterus aethiopicus aethiopicus

Marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus aethiopicus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Protopterus aethiopicus aethiopicus

Common Name
Marbled lungfish

Biology
Under laboratory conditions it is an obligatory air breather (Ref. 34291), but under certain conditions lungfish in the wild may not be obligate air breathers and the use of aerial respiration may be a function of ecological as well as physiological factors (Ref. 58531). It inhabits river and lake fringes, swamps and floodplains (Ref. 28714). In Lake Victoria it is found in open lake and marginal swamps, in Lake Tanganyika basin only near rivers and deltas (Ref. 4967). Juveniles are found in the matted roots of papyrus (Ref. 34291). Protopterus aethiopicus is able to live in streams and swamps which are completely dry for long periods of the year (Ref. 45484). Withstands desiccation on floodplains by aestivating in cocoons until the next rains, breathing air by a small passage leading to the outside (Ref. 45484). It breeds during flood season (Ref. 28714).

Classification

Classified By
Heckel, 1851
Class
Lobe-finned fishes (Sarcopterygii)
Order
South American and African Lungfishes (Lepidosireniformes)
Family
African lungfishes (Protopteridae)

Distribution

Region
Africa
Distribution
Africa: Nile; Lakes Albert, Edward, Victoria, Nabugabo, Tanganyika, Kyoga and No (Ref. 3498).
Range
Unknown

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
25 °C
Water Temperature To
30 °C
Depth From - meters
0 m
Depth To - meters
60 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Freshwater; demersal; depth range 0 - 60 m (Ref. 34291), usually 0 - 20 m (Ref. 34291)
Trophic Level
3.43 s.e. 0.69 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
False
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
200 cm
Common Length
130 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.6602 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Vulnerability
Very high vulnerability (90 of 100)
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax > 30; Fec = 468)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated