Some species of lungfish breathe only air; they have no gills, and will drown if forced underwater. Why might it be an advantage for lungfish to breathe air even though they live in water?
2007-04-10 18:58:13 · 5 answers · asked by confidential 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
You are talking about the African Dipnoi.
The Dipnoi are a group of sarcopterygiian fish, are are commonly known as the lungfish. Their "lung" is a modified swim bladder, which in most fish is used for buoyancy in swimming, but in the lungfish also absorbs oxygen and removes wastes. Modern lungfish in Africa and South America are able to survive when their pools dry up by burrowing into the mud and sealing themselves within a mucous-lined burrow. During this time, they breathe air through their swim bladder instead of through their gills, and reduce their metabolic rate dramatically.
The advantage there is that the countries where these fish live encounter long periods of drought every year, in which food is also scare. So, being able to breath air and lower their metabolism at the same time is an advantage.
2007-04-10 22:07:33 · answer #1 · answered by Jesus is my Savior 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some places where it's very dry and the water in the ponds dry up, the lungfish can "migrate" to other areas where there's more water. As they can breathe air, the "migration" can take place over land.
2007-04-11 02:08:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They live in water that is very shallow and can and does dry up during certain seasons. During the drier spurts the once pond/lake turns intoa big mud puddle. Since they can breath air they are able to live in the mudd to keep moist and not die like normal fish would. I also know they might crawl onto land using their thick fins for very short periods of time to find water/ moister areas a few feet away. Theyare cool creatures!
2007-04-11 02:11:31 · answer #3 · answered by STL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
evolution my friend!
fish will all be moving out of the water soon!
they are just changing
i think they prefer air because they are warm blooded right?
im not too sure about that
2007-04-11 02:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by mauiwaui16 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say it allows them to move to another location when theirs begins to dry up, become over crowded, or have an insufficient food supply
2007-04-11 02:36:29 · answer #5 · answered by BP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋