Lungfish are a fascinating and ancient group of fish that have survived for more than 400 million years. They are often referred to as “living fossils” because they have changed very little since their ancestors first appeared in the fossil record. One question that has long puzzled scientists is how long these remarkable fish can live. In this article, we will explore what is currently known about the oldest lungfish.
Lungfish are found in freshwater habitats in Africa, South America, and Australia. There are six extant species of lungfish, but they are all relatively similar in appearance and behavior. One of the most interesting things about lungfish is their ability to breathe air. They have a primitive lung that allows them to supplement their gill respiration with oxygen from the air. This adaptation is thought to have allowed lungfish to survive in stagnant or low-oxygen environments where other fish would not be able to survive.
Despite their remarkable adaptations and longevity, there is still much that is not known about the lifespan of lungfish. This is partly due to the fact that they are difficult to study in the wild, and also because they are not widely kept in captivity. However, there have been a few instances where researchers have been able to estimate the age of individual lungfish.
The oldest confirmed age of a lungfish was recorded in Australia in 2003. A West African lungfish (Protopterus annectens) that had been kept in captivity at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for 75 years was transferred to the Australian Museum in Sydney. The fish was estimated to be at least 100 years old when it arrived in Australia, based on its size and growth rate. This means that the fish was likely born in the wild in West Africa around 1903. Unfortunately, the fish died a few months after arriving at the museum, so its age could not be confirmed through further examination.
Another lungfish that is thought to have lived a very long life was a Queensland lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) that was caught in Australia in 2003. This fish was estimated to be at least 90 years old based on its size and growth rate. However, because the fish was caught in the wild and not kept in captivity, its age could not be confirmed.
It is likely that there are other lungfish that have lived to be very old, but because of the difficulty of studying them, their ages may never be known. Nevertheless, the examples of the West African and Queensland lungfish demonstrate that these remarkable fish can live for many decades and possibly even centuries.
In conclusion, the oldest confirmed age of a lungfish was around 100 years old, although there have been reports of lungfish that may have lived even longer. These long-lived fish are a testament to the remarkable adaptations that have allowed lungfish to survive for hundreds of millions of years, and they continue to fascinate and intrigue scientists and aquarium enthusiasts alike.
