lungfish

[ luhng-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) lung·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) lung·fish·es.

1. any of various slender, air-breathing fishes of the order (or subclass) Dipnoi, of rivers and lakes in Africa, South America, and Australia, having a lunglike air bladder as well as gills and growing to a length of 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters).

lungfish

/ ˈlʌŋˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any freshwater bony fish of the subclass Dipnoi, having an air-breathing lung, fleshy paired fins, and an elongated body. The only living species are those of the genera Lepidosiren of South America, Protopterus of Africa, and Neoceratodus of Australia

lungfish

/ lŭng′fĭsh′ /

1. Any of several tropical freshwater fish of the order or subclass Dipnoi that, in addition to having gills, have lunglike organs for breathing air. Lungfish have a long, narrow body, and certain species can survive periods of drought inside a mucus-lined cocoon in the mud. The lungfish and the coelacanths are the only living lobe-finned fishes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lungfish¹

First recorded in 1880–85; lung + fish

Example Sentences

Lungfish — strange fish that can walk on their fins and breathe air — also had huge amounts of DNA.

From Science News For Students

His purpose was the study of the wonderful Australian fauna, the oviparous mammals, marsupials, and ceratodus (lungfish).

From Project Gutenberg

In certain swampy regions these lungfish swim freely in the water of the marshes.

From Project Gutenberg

In this Silurian time certain of these lungfish were perhaps trapped in the basin in the marsh by the uplifting of the border.

From Project Gutenberg

The light from the star that died when the meteor was created fell on Earth before the first lungfish ventured from the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

The lungfish have a curious habit which keeps them over the dry season.

From Project Gutenberg