ADW: Lepidosiren paradoxa: INFORMATION

<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns:og="http://ogp.me/ns#" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> <head> <title>ADW: Lepidosiren paradoxa: INFORMATION</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-migrate-3.3.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/js/compat.js"></script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://animaldiversity.org/favicon.ico" /> <link href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gentium+Book+Basic:400,400italic,700,700italic" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=PT+Sans:400,700,400italic,700italic" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/bootstrap/css/bootstrap.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/css/pica.styles.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/css/pica.print.css" media="print" />  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/static/colorbox/colorbox.css" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/" /> <meta content="Lepidosiren paradoxa (South American lungfish)" property="og:title" /> <meta content="website" property="og:type" /> <meta content="Animal Diversity Web" property="og:site_name" /> <meta content="https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Lepidosireniformes/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/medium.jpg" property="og:image" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@AnimalDiversity" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Lepidosiren paradoxa (South American lungfish)" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Read about Lepidosiren paradoxa (South American lungfish) on the Animal Diversity Web." /> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://animaldiversity.org/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Lepidosireniformes/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/medium.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:image:height" content="480" /> <meta name="twitter:image:width" content="621" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/js/Hyphenator.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/social-likes/social-likes_birman.css" /> <style> .social-likes { margin: 0; } .social-likes__widget { margin: 0; } </style>   </head> <body> <div id="outerwrap"> <div id="header" aria-role="header"> <h1> <a id="homelink" href="/">Animal Diversity Web</a> </h1> <div class="umlinks"> <div class="relative"> <a href="https://lsa.umich.edu/ummz/" id="ummzlink">University of Michigan Museum of Zoology</a> <a href="https://www.umich.edu/" id="umlink">University of Michigan</a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="wrap" class="gradient"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row-fluid"> <div class="span2 sidebar left"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs nav-stacked" id="sitemap"> <li> <a href="/">Home</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/animal_names/">About Animal Names</a> </li> <li> <a href="/teach/">Educational Resources</a> </li> <li> <a href="/collections/">Special Collections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/glossary/">Glossary</a> </li> <li> <a href="/accounts/Animalia/">Browse Animalia</a> </li> </ul> <h2 class="offscreen">More Information</h2> <div class="well"> <h3>Additional Information</h3> <ul class="unstyled"> <li> <a href="http://eol.org/search/?q=Lepidosiren paradoxa&search=Go">Encyclopedia of Life</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="span7_5 blahblahblah main" aria-role="main"> <h2 class="rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa<span class="vernacular-name">South American lungfish</span></h2> <div class="social-likes" data-counters="no"> <div class="facebook" title="Share link on Facebook">Facebook</div> <div class="twitter" title="Share link on Twitter">Twitter</div> </div> <div class="snapshots" aria-hidden="true"> <ul> <li> <a href="/accounts/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Lepidosireniformes/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/"> <img alt=" " src="/collections/contributors/Grzimek_fish/Lepidosireniformes/Lepidosiren_paradoxa/button.jpg" border="0" /> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="byline">By Stephanie Elliott</div> <nav class="contents"> <ul> <li> <a href="#geographic_range">Geographic Range</a> </li> <li> <a href="#habitat">Habitat</a> </li> <li> <a href="#physical_description">Physical Description</a> </li> <li> <a href="#development">Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="#reproduction">Reproduction</a> </li> <li> <a href="#lifespan_longevity">Lifespan/Longevity</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <a href="#behavior">Behavior</a> </li> <li> <a href="#communication">Communication and Perception</a> </li> <li> <a href="#food_habits">Food Habits</a> </li> <li> <a href="#predation">Predation</a> </li> <li> <a href="#ecosystem_roles">Ecosystem Roles</a> </li> <li> <a href="#economic_importance_positive">Economic Importance for Humans: Positive</a> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <a href="#economic_importance_negative">Economic Importance for Humans: Negative</a> </li> <li> <a href="#conservation_status">Conservation Status</a> </li> <li> <a href="#comments">Other Comments</a> </li> <li> <a href="#contributors">Contributors</a> </li> <li> <a href="#references">References</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="inner-wrap"> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="geographic_range">Geographic Range</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> is found in the neotropics of South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela (Planquette et al., 1996). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#c811be0400d80a74dcc2f79b8a65692f" class="citation">Planquette, et al., 1996</a>)</span></p> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Details of the range of <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">L. paradoxa</span> are difficult to establish (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). There has not been a lot of research on this species and the specimens that have been identified lack information on their origin. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Biogeographic Regions</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020915000403">neotropical</a> <ul> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145365">native</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="habitat">Habitat</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> live in a subtropical climate with temperatures ranging from 24 to 28掳C (Planquette et al., 1996). This species lives in South America, primarily in the Amazon river basin. They prefer stagnant water where there is little current, such as a swamp or lake. These fish typically stay very close to the surface of the water. In times of drought, they can burrow in the mud up to 50 cm to avoid drying out (Berra, 2001). <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> are primarily freshwater fish and are physiologically unable to cross large expanses of saltwater (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>; <a href="#74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea" class="citation">Berra, 2001</a>; <a href="#c811be0400d80a74dcc2f79b8a65692f" class="citation">Planquette, et al., 1996</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate "> <li class="keywords-header">Habitat Regions</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145598">tropical</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145747">freshwater</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate "> <li class="keywords-header">Aquatic Biomes</li> <li> <span>lakes and ponds</span> </li> <li> <span>rivers and streams</span> </li> </ul> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Wetlands</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145679">swamp</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="aside block-grid donthyphenate one-up"> <li> <dl> <dt>Range depth</dt> <dd>0 to .50 m</dd> <dd class="english">0.00 to 1.64 ft</dd> </dl> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="physical_description">Physical Description</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> juveniles have a pattern of bright yellow spots which fade away as the fish matures (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). Adult South American lungfish have a black or grey coloration. Lungfish have solid toothplates instead of individual teeth. Bodies are long and slender, somewhat like salamanders, with a diphycercal tail. These fish can grow up to 125 cm in length (Baensch et al., 1985).</p> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> young look a bit like <a class="taxon-link" href="/accounts/Amphibia/">amphibian larvae</a>, with four external gills that they use for breathing until about seven weeks in age. After this time, they become obligate air breathers and regression of the external gills begins (Berra, 2001). They have a reduced bronchial apparatus which allows them to survive during times when oxygen levels are low. During drought, they can burrow into mud to 50 cm below the surface and become dormant until the environment becomes more hospitable (2001). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>; <a href="#a7cf6415348a61a6abe81ae19668adc3" class="citation">Baensch and Riehl, 1985</a>; <a href="#74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea" class="citation">Berra, 2001</a>)</span></p> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Surfactant composition of South American lungfish resembles that of amphibians. In contrast, the more primitive Australian lungfish, <span rank="Species" class="taxon-name rank-species">Neoceratodus fosteri</span>, possesses surfactant that is almost identical to primitive air-breathing <a class="taxon-link" href="/accounts/Actinopterygii/">actinopterygiian fish</a> (Orgeig, 1995). This could be one reason why <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">L. paradoxa</span> must breathe air as an adult, while other lungfish can breathe air or water. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#b26e1662ac2812d1cd02b5faffc43ab3" class="citation">Orgeig and Daniels, 1995</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate "> <li class="keywords-header">Other Physical Features</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020916131519">ectothermic</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020916125902">heterothermic</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145642">bilateral symmetry</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Sexual Dimorphism</li> <li> <span>sexes alike</span> </li> </ul> <ul class="aside block-grid donthyphenate three-up"> <li> <dl> <dt>Range length</dt> <dd>125 (high) cm</dd> <dd class="english">49.21 (high) in</dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt>Range wingspan</dt> <dd>N/A to N/A mm</dd> <dd class="english"> to in</dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt>Average wingspan</dt> <dd>N/A mm</dd> <dd class="english"> in</dd> </dl> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="development">Development</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Newly hatched <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> resemble amphibian tadpoles. The have four external gills which they use to breathe for the first seven weeks of their lives (Berra, 2001). After this time, they become strictly air breathers and their gills begin to regress (2001). During the breeding season, the males develop gill-like structures that allow them to release oxygen into their burrows for their developing young (2001). These structures disappear after the breeding season is over. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea" class="citation">Berra, 2001</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Development - Life Cycle</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145364">metamorphosis</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="reproduction">Reproduction</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">There is very little information on the mating systems of <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span>.</p> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> breed during the rainy months when adults are able to move into areas that have been flooded and build nests (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). Other information, including egg development, the number of offspring per breeding season, and gestation periods is unknown. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Key Reproductive Features</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145554">iteroparous</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145584">seasonal breeding</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145786">sexual</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145546">fertilization</a> <ul> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145726">external</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145572">oviparous</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="aside block-grid donthyphenate two-up"> <li> <dl> <dt>Breeding interval</dt> <dd>Unknown; minimum population doubling time is greater than 14 years.</dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt>Breeding season</dt> <dd>Breeding occurs during the rainy months of the year.</dd> </dl> </li> </ul> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Both parents gather debris to make a nest. The nest is then guarded by the male parent. The males can increase oxygen levels for their developing young by using gill-like structures formed during the breeding season. These gill-like structures are highly vascularized, feathery structures developed from the pelvic fin (Berra, 2001). These structures allow the male to release oxygen from his blood into the surrounding nest and remove carbon dioxide (2001). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea" class="citation">Berra, 2001</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Parental Investment</li> <li> <span>pre-fertilization</span> <ul> <li> <span>provisioning</span> </li> <li> <span>protecting</span> <ul> <li> <span>female</span> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <span>pre-hatching/birth</span> <ul> <li> <span>protecting</span> <ul> <li> <span>male</span> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="lifespan_longevity">Lifespan/Longevity</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> has not been well studied in terms of life span, but the studies that have been conducted show that the average lifespan of this species is a little more that eight years, both in the wild and in captivity. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#2a01ad6221824ef045d00fbc6aec2abd" class="citation">Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, 2005</a>)</span></p> <ul class="aside block-grid donthyphenate three-up"> <li> <dl> <dt>Average lifespan<br /><span>Status: wild</span></dt> <dd>8.3 years</dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt>Average lifespan<br /><span>Status: captivity</span></dt> <dd>8.25 years</dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt>Average lifespan<br /><span>Status: wild</span></dt> <dd>8.3 years</dd> <dd> <small> <a href="http://www.demogr.mpg.de//cgi-bin/longevityrecords/reference.plx?data=3682" class="external-link">Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research</a> </small> </dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt>Average lifespan<br /><span>Status: captivity</span></dt> <dd>8.25 years</dd> <dd> <small> <a href="http://www.demogr.mpg.de//cgi-bin/longevityrecords/reference.plx?data=3681" class="external-link">Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research</a> </small> </dd> </dl> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="behavior">Behavior</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> is a solitary species. They live by themselves in burrows that they construct in swamps or lakes (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). They are mostly inactive, laying in the muddy or shallow water close to the surface in order to breathe. Other behaviors, such as social structures and interaction with other species are largely unknown due to the lack of research on this species. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Key Behaviors</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020914213156">natatorial</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145472">motile</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145585">sedentary</a> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145381">solitary</a> </li> </ul> <h4>Home Range</h4> <p audience="advanced intermediate">The home range of <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> is likely small because of its inactive nature. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="communication">Communication and Perception</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">There is not a lot known about communication and perception in <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span>. They have small eyes which suggests that <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">L. paradoxa</span> relies on other senses to detect prey and potential predators.</p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate "> <li class="keywords-header">Communication Channels</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145694">visual</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Perception Channels</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145694">visual</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="food_habits">Food Habits</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> eat a variety of food items including some <a class="taxon-link" href="/accounts/Actinopterygii/">bony fish</a>, algae and weeds, terrestrial plants (stems), shrimp, insects, clams, and snails (Berra, 2001). They are primarily carnivorous. Juveniles, which are strictly aquatic, feed on larval insects and snails. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea" class="citation">Berra, 2001</a>)</span></p> <p audience="advanced intermediate">South American lungfish capture prey by suction feeding. They use tooth plates, an enlarged cranial rib (which serves as the site for the origin of the muscle that depresses the hyoid apparatus), and a depressor mandibulae to manipulate and chew food prior to swallowing. Hydraulic transport achieved by movements of the hyoid apparatus is used to position prey within the mouth. This is parallel to the function of a tongue (Bemis, 1986). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#439a569b11143ce8b8c9775df81ee7a4" class="citation">Bemis and Lauder, 1986</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate "> <li class="keywords-header">Primary Diet</li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145419">carnivore</a> <ul> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020904145711">insectivore</a> </li> <li> <span>eats non-insect arthropods</span> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate "> <li class="keywords-header">Animal Foods</li> <li> <span>fish</span> </li> <li> <span>insects</span> </li> <li> <span>mollusks</span> </li> <li> <span>aquatic crustaceans</span> </li> </ul> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Plant Foods</li> <li> <span>wood, bark, or stems</span> </li> <li> <span>algae</span> </li> <li> <a class="gloss" href="#20020913215711">macroalgae</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="predation">Predation</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Information on the predators of <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span>, as well as any predator/anti-predator adaptations are largely unknown due to lack of research on this species.</p> <ul class="aside block-grid donthyphenate one-up"> <li> <dl> <dt>Known Predators</dt> <dd> <ul> <li>There is no information on known predators.</li> </ul> </dd> </dl> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="ecosystem_roles">Ecosystem Roles</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">This species influences the neotropical ecosystem of the Amazon Basin. <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> prey on some small bony fish, shrimp, clams, snails, and insects (Berra, 2001). Any role that they play as a prey item is largely unknown. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea" class="citation">Berra, 2001</a>)</span></p> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="economic_importance_positive">Economic Importance for Humans: Positive</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">This species does not provide direct economic benefits to humans. It does provide intellectual benefits; lungfish represent an important step in vertebrate evolution and their origin provide insights into the origin of tetrapods (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> <ul class="keywords donthyphenate last"> <li class="keywords-header">Positive Impacts</li> <li> <span>research and education</span> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="economic_importance_negative">Economic Importance for Humans: Negative</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate">There are no known adverse effects of <span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> on humans.</p> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="conservation_status">Conservation Status</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> is not listed on the IUCN Red List, CITES appendices, or the U.S. Endangered Species List. The abundance of this fish is largely unknown (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> <ul class="aside block-grid donthyphenate three-up"> <li> <dl> <dt> <a class="external-link" href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/">IUCN Red List</a> </dt> <dd> <span>No special status</span> </dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt> <a class="external-link" href="http://www.fws.gov/endangered/">US Federal List</a> </dt> <dd> <span>No special status</span> </dd> </dl> </li> <li> <dl> <dt> <a class="external-link" href="http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php">CITES</a> </dt> <dd> <span>No special status</span> </dd> </dl> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="comments">Other Comments</h3> <p audience="advanced intermediate"><span rank="Species" class="taxon-link rank-species">Lepidosiren paradoxa</span> was the first living species of lungfish to be formally named (Alves-Gomes et al., 2003). There are three living genera of lungfish, <a class="taxon-link rank-genus" href="/accounts/Neoceratodus/">Neoceratodus</a>, <a class="taxon-link rank-genus" href="/accounts/Lepidosiren/">Lepidosiren</a>, and <a class="taxon-link rank-genus" href="/accounts/Protopterus/">Protopterus</a>.</p> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Fossil evidence has placed some Devonian lungfish in fully marine habitats as well as freshwater deposits (2003). <a class="taxon-link" href="/accounts/Lepidosirenidae/">Lepidosirenids</a> show a clear vicariance pattern that is consistent with the separation of the African and South American continents during the Cretaceous (2003).</p> <p audience="advanced intermediate">Because of their relationship with both fish and tetrapods, lungfish are a very important evolutionary step. More research should be done so that they can be more fully understood. <span class="citations"> (<a href="#0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3" class="citation">Bemis, et al., 2003</a>)</span></p> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="contributors">Contributors</h3> <p>Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web. </p> <p>Stephanie Elliott (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Kevin Wehrly (editor, instructor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. </p> </section> <section class="offscreen"> <h3 id="glossary">Glossary</h3> <div id="20020915000403"> <dl> <dt>Neotropical</dt> <dd> <p>living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.</p> <p align="center"> <img alt="World Map" src="/images/worldmap.2001.jpg" /> </p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145642"> <dl> <dt>bilateral symmetry</dt> <dd> <p>having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145419"> <dl> <dt>carnivore</dt> <dd> <p>an animal that mainly eats meat</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020916131519"> <dl> <dt>ectothermic</dt> <dd> <p>animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145726"> <dl> <dt>external fertilization</dt> <dd> <p>fertilization takes place outside the female's body</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145546"> <dl> <dt>fertilization</dt> <dd> <p>union of egg and spermatozoan</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145747"> <dl> <dt>freshwater</dt> <dd> <p>mainly lives in water that is not salty.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020916125902"> <dl> <dt>heterothermic</dt> <dd> <p>having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145711"> <dl> <dt>insectivore</dt> <dd> <p>An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145554"> <dl> <dt>iteroparous</dt> <dd> <p>offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020913215711"> <dl> <dt>macroalgae</dt> <dd> <p>seaweed. Algae that are large and photosynthetic.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145364"> <dl> <dt>metamorphosis</dt> <dd> <p>A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies have complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145472"> <dl> <dt>motile</dt> <dd> <p>having the capacity to move from one place to another.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020914213156"> <dl> <dt>natatorial</dt> <dd> <p>specialized for swimming</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145365"> <dl> <dt>native range</dt> <dd> <p>the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145572"> <dl> <dt>oviparous</dt> <dd> <p>reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145584"> <dl> <dt>seasonal breeding</dt> <dd> <p>breeding is confined to a particular season</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145585"> <dl> <dt>sedentary</dt> <dd> <p>remains in the same area</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145786"> <dl> <dt>sexual</dt> <dd> <p>reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145381"> <dl> <dt>solitary</dt> <dd> <p>lives alone</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145679"> <dl> <dt>swamp</dt> <dd> <p>a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water, often dominated by woody vegetation.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145598"> <dl> <dt>tropical</dt> <dd> <p>the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.</p> </dd> </dl> </div> <div id="20020904145694"> <dl> <dt>visual</dt> <dd> <p>uses sight to communicate</p> </dd> </dl> </div> </section> <section class="hyphenate"> <h3 id="references">References</h3> <p id="a7cf6415348a61a6abe81ae19668adc3">Baensch, H., R. Riehl. 1985. <span style="font-style: italic">Aquarien atlas</span>. Germany: Verlag fur Natur-und Heimtierkunde GmbH. </p> <p id="439a569b11143ce8b8c9775df81ee7a4">Bemis, W., G. Lauder. 1986. "Morphology and function of the feeding apparatus of the lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa (Dipnoi)." (On-line). Accessed September 26, 2005 at <tt><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3950967&query_hl=1">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3950967&query_hl=1</a></tt>. </p> <p id="0466183ec44514e7a828c65f1aa12bb3">Bemis, W., C. Fernandes, R. e Castro, J. Zuanon, L. Py-Daniel, J. Alves-Gomes, G. dos Santos, F. Machado, L. Malabarba. 2003. "Notes on the Systematics, Distribution and Natural History of the South American Lungfishes in the genus Lepidosiren Fitzinger 1837 (Dipnoi: Lepidosirenidae)" (On-line pdf). Accessed October 08, 2005 at <tt><a href="www.bio.umass.edu/biology/bemis/Lungfish_ms.pdf">www.bio.umass.edu/biology/bemis/Lungfish_ms.pdf</a></tt>. </p> <p id="74c14fdb9e58f0682e386e122379e7ea">Berra, T. 2001. <span style="font-style: italic">Freshwater fish distribution</span>. San Diego, CA, USA: Academic Press. </p> <p id="607edeaf0b42ad59f28f7da201edfb4e">Boujard, T., M. Pascal, J. Meunier, P. Le Bail. 1997. <span style="font-style: italic">Poissons de Guyane</span>. Paris: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. </p> <p id="84c6f9d2b253104b8c9dd75343ffa240">Fishman, A., R. DeLaney, P. Laurent. 1985. "Circulatory adaptation to bimodal respiration in the dipnoan lungfish" (On-line). Accessed September 26, 2005 at <tt><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=4030580&query_hl=1">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=4030580&query_hl=1</a></tt>. </p> <p id="2a01ad6221824ef045d00fbc6aec2abd">Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, 2005. "Longevity Records: Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish" (On-line). Index Search. Accessed October 08, 2005 at <tt><a href="http://www.demogr.mpg.de/?http://www.demogr.mpg.de/longevityrecords/">http://www.demogr.mpg.de/?http://www.demogr.mpg.de/longevityrecords/</a></tt>. </p> <p id="b26e1662ac2812d1cd02b5faffc43ab3">Orgeig, S., C. Daniels. 1995. "The evolutionary significance of pulmonary surfactant in lungfish (Dipnoi)." (On-line). Accessed September 26, 2005 at <tt><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7626285&query_hl=1">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=7626285&query_hl=1</a></tt>. </p> <p id="c811be0400d80a74dcc2f79b8a65692f">Planquette, P., P. Keith, P. Le Bail. 1996. <span style="font-style: italic">Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane</span>. Paris: IEGB-M.N.H.N.,INRA,CSP. </p> </section> </div> </div> <div class="span2_5 right sidebar"> <div class="well" id="pocket-guide-link"> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/adw-pocket-guide/id916179421?mt=8" target="_blank"><i class="icon-download icon-white" style="vertical-align: bottom"></i> ADW Pocket Guides on the iOS App Store! </a> <p>The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides!</p> <p> <a href="/news/5009059054038197651/">Read more...</a> </p> </div> <h2 class="offscreen">Search</h2> <div id="site-search"> <form action="/search" method="GET"> <label for="q" class="offscreen">Enter search text</label> <input value="" id="q" name="q" class="span12" size="15" type="text" placeholder="Search ADW" /> <button class="btn"> <i class="icon-zoom-in"></i> <span class="offscreen">Search</span> </button> <p style="max-height: 35px"> <label for="feature-list" class="offscreen">Search in feature</label> <select size="1" name="feature" class="feature-list 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ADW: Lepidosiren paradoxa: INFORMATION