Lepidosireniformes

Protopterus aethiopicus, visibly reduced, the thread-like fins.

The Lepidosireniformes (. Gr. " lepis " - " idos " = scale; " Seiren " = siren Lat: " format " = shape) are an order of the lungfish ( Dipnoi ), and the four extant species in tropical Africa of a species in tropical South America occurs. In addition to these five types are available with the Australian lungfish ( Neoceratodus forsteri ) only one more recent type, but belongs to a different order.

Features

The lungfish of order Lepidosireniformes have an eel-like, elongated body and reach body lengths of 45 cm to two meters. In contrast to the large scaly Australian lungfish, which only has a single lung, the Lepidosireniformes species have only small shed and have paired lungs. The scales lie deep below the glandular epidermis, so that the fish appear to be more naked. The most striking feature of the Regulations, the stringy reduced paired fins, which have no fin rays. The larvae have external gills tufts, similar to the larvae of salamanders. Grown Lepidosireniformes can survive when buried in dry seasons. The fish spawn in holes and passages which they dig in riverbanks or in the sea bottom. The eggs are guarded by the male.

Inside systematics

• Family Lepidosirenidae genus Lepidosiren South American lungfish ( Lepidosiren paradoxa )

• Genus Protopterus Ethiopian lungfish ( Protopterus aethiopicus ) ( Heckel, 1851)
• East African lungfish ( Protopterus amphibius) (Peters, 1844)
• West African lungfish ( Protopterus annectens ) ( Owen, 1839)
• Congo lungfish ( Protopterus dolloi ) ( Boulenger, 1900)

Phylogeny

A fossil form of Lepidosireniformes is Gnathorhiza which occurred from Westfalium ( 316.5 ago to about 305 million years ago) until the Olenekian (before 249.5 to 245.9 million years).