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Lungfish are freshwater fish from the subclass Dipnoi that first appeared in the early Devonian and are still around today.

Facts[]

Lungfish (also known as salamanderfish) are freshwater fish belonging to the subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed internal skeleton.

Today, lungfish live only in Africa, South America, and Australia. While vicariance would suggest this represents an ancient distribution limited to the Mesozoic supercontinent Gondwana, the fossil record suggests advanced lungfish had a widespread freshwater distribution and the current distribution of modern lungfish species reflects extinction of many lineages following the breakup of Pangaea, Gondwana and Laurasia.

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A Triassic genus of lungfish was seen in a river being hunted by a female Coelophysis. She managed to catch the fish and throw it out of the water. She then began feeding but she was frightened off by a herd of Placerias.

Another lungfish was dug up by the female Coelophysis. The lungfish was in a protective cocoon. The Coelophysis broke into the protective casing and began eating the lungfish. However, she was challenged for the carcass by several other Coelophysis.

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