Australian Lungfish Identification Guide
Recognize the Australian lungfish by its heavy scaled body, paddle-shaped fleshy fins, and continuous fin fold.
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Key identification features
- Heavy-bodied, torpedo-shaped fish covered in large, overlapping bony scales
- Distinctive paddle-shaped paired fins with a fleshy, lobed base, unlike thin thread-like fins
- Single continuous fin fold running along the back, around the tail, and along the belly
- Olive-brown to gray-green coloring above, paler below
- Single lung allowing occasional air gulping at the surface
- Can reach over 1.5 meters in length
Common look-alikes
- African lungfish: has thin, filamentous, whip-like paired fins rather than the broad, paddle-shaped fleshy fins of the Australian lungfish
- Eels: are much more slender overall and lack any paired lobed fins, unlike the stocky, heavy-bodied Australian lungfish
- Bowfin: has a long low dorsal fin but lacks paddle-shaped lobed paired fins and a fin fold wrapping the tail
Where you'll see one
Australian lungfish are restricted to a handful of slow-flowing rivers in southeastern Queensland, Australia, including the Mary and Burnett river systems, where they favor deep, still pools with abundant aquatic vegetation and submerged logs for shelter during the day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell an Australian lungfish from an African lungfish?
Look at the paired fins: Australian lungfish have broad, paddle-shaped fleshy fins, while African lungfish have thin, thread-like whip fins.
What body shape helps identify an Australian lungfish at a glance?
Its heavy, torpedo-shaped body covered in large overlapping scales looks noticeably stockier than the slender, eel-like body of most other lungfish species.