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Animal profile

West African Lungfish

Protopterus annectens

ActinopterygiiSeasonal swamps, floodplains and shallow pools that dry out annuallyLeast Concern

Field profile

The West African lungfish is an eel-like air-breather with paired lungs and thin, thread-like fins. It survives the dry season by burrowing into mud and sealing itself in a cocoon. Adults commonly reach around one metre.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2026-01-10

West African Lungfish

African lungfish sleep out the dry season in mud

When its swamp dries, the West African lungfish burrows down, secretes a mucus cocoon around itself and breathes air through a tube to the surface. Metabolism drops sharply, and individuals have survived this dormancy for well over a year.

Read with evidence →

West African Lungfish | Daily Animal Facts