Lungfish

Lungfish, name for various fishes of Africa, Australia, and South America that can breathe through lungs. The African (family Protopteridae) and South American (family Lepidosirenidae) lungfishes are eellike, with slender fins. They can survive dry conditions by burrowing into mud and forming a cocoon. The Australian lungfish (family Ceratodontidae) has a broad body covered with large scales and cannot survive drying out. In 1997 DNA research indicated that the lungfish is the predecessor of the amphibian.