preview

Dipnoi Essay

Decent Essays

DIPNOI
Dipnoi are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Dipteriformes, families Ceratodontidae and Lepidosirenidae.The Dipnoi or the lung fishes are the unique group of bony fishes. Dipnoi owes its name to the presence of two nostrils. The dipnoi are a group of sarcopterygiian fish and are commonly known as the lung fishes. Their lung is a modified swim bladder, which in most fish is used for buoyancy in swimming, but in the lungfish also absorbs oxygen and removes wastes. Dipnoi is an interesting group of fishes showing affinities with teleosts and amphibians.They evolved during middle Devonian and flourished in Permian and Triassic periods. The earliest known fossil lung fish is Dipterus …show more content…

*Protopterus undergoes summer sleep (aestivation) when the river becomes completely dried up (Fig. 11.1) *During aestivation, nutrition is derived from the stored fat. *Parental care is well developed in dipnoans. Male gurards the eggs and …show more content…

11.2) like and brown in colour having ability of camouflage, and is covered by overlapping cycloid scales. *Mouth is located on the ventral side of the head. *Nostrils are present on the ventral side of the snout. *Internal nostrils open into the mouth. *Acutely lobate aired fins without fin rays. *The dorsal, ventral and anal fins fused into a single fin. *Fins are archipterygial type. *Tail is diphycercal. *Lateral line sensory system is well developed. *Large dental plates are firmly fused to the jaw

Get Access