African lungfish live in freshwater swamps, backwaters and small rivers in West and South Africa. These prehistoric animals have survived unchanged for nearly 400 million years and are sometimes referred to as "living fossils."

Do lungfish live in water?

While they still live in water, they need to regularly come up to the surface for air. These fish can even drown if they are held underwater for a long time. The lungfish have elongated bodies, like eels, with thread-like pectoral and pelvic fins which they use to swim and crawl along the bottom.

Where are lungfish found in Australia?

Habitat. The Australian Lungfish is normally found in still or slow flowing pools in river systems of south-eastern Queensland.