Acid tolerance of the African lungfish <i>Protopterus annectins</i> (Owen)

Abstract

The tolerance of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Owen) to acid water was investigated under laboratory conditions. Healthy adult specimens of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Owen); mean length 38.3cm ± 2.4, and mean weight 294.3g ± 5.2 were subjected to acid waters of concentrations that ranged from pH 3.8 to pH 7.4. P. annectens tolerated acid water from neutral pH 7.4.down to a pH of 4.6. It is possible that P. annectens was able to maintain almost a constant level of blood pH in acid waters due to the possession of acidophilic cells in the gills which actively secrete H+ from the blood into the water medium.

Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 71-74