Australian Lungfish

Hi! I’m an Australian Lungfish

A large fish with dark, scaled body swimming near rocks and aquatic plants in an aquarium.

The Australian Lungfish is a fascinating and unique animal. Native to pools and streams in southeast Queensland, the Lungfish is able to endure dry periods by breathing air through a single lung, instead of breathing through their gills.

Lungfish are living fossils. They first appeared in the fossil record 380 million years ago. The Australian Lungfish is the most primative of the extant lungfish species, and lungfish are likely the fish most closesly related to humans.

The National Zoo & Aquarium is home to 3 Australian Lungfish: Curly, Larry, and Moe.

Facts

Taxonomy

Neoceratodus forsteri

Population Movement

Stable

Current Animals

Moe, Larry, Curly

Life Span (captive)

Average 20-25 years (we think)

Weight

Average 20kg, up to 43kg

Reproduction

Australian lungish reach sexual maturity at 17 years for males, and 22 years for females. They spawn in late winter/early spring. In the wild, spawning occurs once every 5 years

Conservation Status

Endangered

Group Count

3

Life Span (wild)

Average 20-25 years (we think)

Size

1.5m length

Gestation

Three weeks 

Distribution

The Australian lungfish is native only to the Mary and Burnett River systems in south-eastern Queensland.