West African Lungfish Identification Guide
Identify the West African Lungfish by its eel-like body, thread-like fins, and mottled grayish-olive coloration.
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Key identification features
- Elongated, eel-like body with small scales embedded in the skin, giving a smooth, almost naked appearance
- Thin, thread-like paired pectoral and pelvic fins rather than fanned fish fins
- Grayish-brown to olive background with scattered dark blotches or mottling, most pronounced in juveniles and fading somewhat with age
- Small eyes and a tapering, pointed tail
- Low, continuous dorsal and anal fins that blend into the tail
- Grows to roughly 3 feet, smaller on average than its larger African relatives
Common look-alikes
- Marbled lungfish: larger and heavier-bodied, with more pronounced dark marbled blotching over a lighter base color
- Slender lungfish: much more elongated and uniformly darker, typically with fewer or no blotches
Where you'll see one
This species inhabits swamps, floodplains, and slow rivers across savanna West and Central Africa. It survives seasonal drought by burrowing into mud and secreting a mucus cocoon, remaining dormant and breathing air through a small opening until the rains return and floodwaters rise again.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a West African lungfish from a marbled lungfish?
Compare size and body build — marbled lungfish are noticeably larger and heavier with bolder marbling, while West African lungfish are more lightly built with lighter mottling.
How do I recognize any lungfish versus a true eel?
Look at the fins — lungfish have thin, thread-like paired limb fins instead of the continuous finned margin found on true eels.