When it comes to living out of water for a long time, the undisputed champions are
the African lungfishes (four species in the genus Protopterus). As the swamp in which
they live dries up, they dig a burrow, coil up into it, and secrete mucus around
themselves to form a cocoon. Then they become dormant. Their metabolism is very
low, yet they still need to breathe a little bit, and they do so with air. This estivation
goes on for the whole of the African dry season, and we’re talking 7-8 months here.
Even more impressively, some estivating African lungfishes have been forced
experimentally to remain in this state for 4 years, and survived.
When it comes to living out of water for a long time, the undisputed champions arethe African lungfishes (four species in the genus Protopterus). As the swamp in whichthey live dries up, they dig a burrow, coil up into it, and secrete mucus aroundthemselves to form a cocoon. Then they become dormant. Their metabolism is verylow, yet they still need to breathe a little bit, and they do so with air. This estivationgoes on for the whole of the African dry season, and we’re talking 7-8 months here.Even more impressively, some estivating African lungfishes have been forcedexperimentally to remain in this state for 4 years, and survived.
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