【Lungfish miracle】Every time there is a drought in Africa, residents roll up their sleeves, hoes in hand, and go to the riverbed to actively dig. Soon, the lungfish hidden deep underground turned into high-quality protein, which was simply processed and put on the table, sending relief from the heat and nutrition for the poor residents. Every year, lungfish appear, even if it hides in the dirt, it is difficult to escape the eyes of the locals. Untouched, lungfish can stand quietly, waiting for the rainy season.
【Lungfish Legend】In 2017, a "grandpa" lungfish caused a sensation and became famous in all directions. Tourists gather to see it off at the Shead Aquarium. The elderly "grandfather" lungfish is nearly 100 years old, but he is seriously ill and will die soon. Tens of millions of people came to see it as a treasure. However, the lifespan of fish is limited after all, and people can only say goodbye with tears.
【Lungfish against the sky】Lungfish often have a long lifespan, can live for tens of years, and even maintain five years without water and food. Thanks to their unique way of survival, they are resilient in harsh environments. Fossils confirm that lungfish originated in the Triassic, and that 400 million years ago, in the Devonian, they evolved the ability to breathe in their lungs to adapt to living on land. The special bladder functions like a lung, connects to the esophagus, and contains "small air chambers" and air sacs that can both store water and help float. This wonderful structure allows the lungfish to take care of land and water, regularly surface in fresh water to breathe to avoid lack of oxygen, and the four ventral fins are like land quadrupeds, more flexible walking, and face drought without fear.
In Africa, lungfish survive the obvious dry season and must be careful. In summer, the riverbed dries up, and the lungfish take advantage of the silt to dig out a hiding place, seal it, secrete mucus, form a protective film, and enter summer dormancy. The protective film blocks the outside world, keeps it moist, resists bacterial infection, and sustains life. Small mouthfuls are left for breathing, metabolism drops to one-sixth, body fat is consumed, insistence on not eating, or even swallowing itself, waiting for the rainy season.
However, lungfish also became one of the contradictions of the local population in the summer, lack of water and food, they became a natural resource, providing food for humans. Lungfish are found, people grab it, and water pours into their mouths. Fish is also used for dinner. Summer is also a difficult time for lungfish. Even if they survive, lungfish may still be used as building materials. When the rainy season comes, the lungfish struggles and creeps out of the earthen wall, and the scene is emotional.
