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Context
South American Lungfish
Habitat and Distribution
Genomic Marvel
Category |
Details |
Scientific Name |
Lepidosiren paradoxa |
Common Names |
South American lungfish, American mud-fish, scaly salamanderfish |
Habitat |
Swamps and slow-moving waters of the Amazon, Paraguay, and lower Paraná River basins in South America |
Family |
Lepidosirenidae (some authors include Protopterus in this family) |
Brazilian Names |
piramboia (snake-fish), pirarucu-bóia, traíra-bóia, caramuru |
Taxonomy |
Closely related to African lungfishes (family Protopteridae); both families diverged during the Early Cretaceous. Some papers suggest classifying both within Lepidosirenidae, but commonly distinct families. |
Description |
Immature lungfish: spotted with gold on a black background; adult: fades to brown or gray. Fused tooth-bearing bones, autostylic jaw suspension, elongated body, reaches 125 cm (4.10 ft). Thin pectoral fins, larger pelvic fins. Gills reduced in adults. |
Feeding Habits |
Juveniles: insect larvae and snails. Adults: omnivorous, including algae and shrimp, using heavily mineralized tooth-plates. |
Adaptations |
Burrows into mud during dry season, creating a chamber with holes for air. Produces a mucus layer to retain moisture and slows metabolism. |
Reproduction |
Mates during rainy season. Builds a nest with highly vascularized pelvic fins for oxygen enrichment. Young have external gills and become air-breathing at about seven weeks. |
Fossils |
Fossils found between 72 and 66 mya, during the Maastrichtian stage of the late Cretaceous. |
Genome |
As of August 2024, L. paradoxa has one of the longest genomes (91 billion bases, 30 times larger than the human genome). Marbled lungfish has the largest genome (130 billion bases). Low levels of PiRNA, which suppresses transposon activity, might contribute to its large genome. |
The South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa) has an IUCN Red List status of Least Concern (LC). It is not evaluated by CITES or CMS. The South American lungfish is also considered harmless to humans.
PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements about the South American lungfish: 1. It is a living fossil and closely resembles its primordial ancestors from the Devonian period. 2. It is found exclusively in high-oxygen environments in South America. 3. It has the largest genome of any animal, approximately 30 times larger than the human genome. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 1 and 3 only C) 2 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B) 1 and 3 only |
SOURCE: THE HINDU
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