Australian lungfish

noun

: a large, olive green to dull brown lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri synonym Ceratodus forsteri) of Australian rivers that attains a length of up to 5 feet (1.5 meters)

An Australian lungfish is the world's oldest fish in an aquarium, at more than 80 years old.

—Kate Lucas, Orange County Register (California), 5 July 2009

Australian lungfish can stay completely underwater because they take in lots of oxygen through their skin.

—Hedda Nussbaum, Ranger Rick, November 1984

called also barramunda, Burnett salmon, Queensland lungfish, salmon

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

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