[8] This longevity is due to its physiological adaptations, which allow it to survive periods of drought, making the lungfish resilient in many habitats.

[12] West African lungfish can grow up to 1 meter long (3.3 feet) and weigh up to 4 kilograms (9 pounds).

[13] The West African lungfish also has another subspecies; P. a. brieni, which is found primarily in southern Africa near the Zambezi, Pungwe and Sabi rivers.

Due to its monophyletic clade, Dipnoi, it is the sister group to the tetrapods; this is attributed to its distinctive physiology and inferred data from fossil and taxa records.

The lungfish has a range of gaits that include both overlapping and non-overlapping fin contacts, allowing it to have movement patterns that resemble walking.

During this time period the lung fish enters a dormancy stage called aestivation, which is similar to hibernation but occurs in the summer instead of winter.

As the mud dries, It releases a copious amount of mucus, forming a cocoon that eventually hardens and protects them from the environment, preventing dehydration.

[8][15] It has also been reported in African countries such as Senegal, Niger, Gambia, Western Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and many others.

[15] The reproductive life of the African lungfish consists of building nests to lay their eggs during the wet season.

Once mature, the young develop fused tooth plates to chew their food, a feature uncommon in most fish.

[21] According to the same study, many locals in Africa claim that the lungfish are sought for their various benefits, such as treating lactation problems in women, alcoholism, enhancing sexual performance in men, and boosting the immune system.