Distribution:
Eastern North America
Habitat:
Freshwater
Remarks:
The Bowfins are restricted to eastern North America. They are opportunistic predators and are capable of breathing atmospheric air. They achieve this with use of their compartmentalized and heavily vascularized swim bladder as a lung. Some laboratory studies suggests that bowfins can bury in mud and live for 3-5 days. Bowfins have long dorsal fin with 48 soft rays, short heteroceral caudal fin, cycloid scales, and a large gular plate. The genus Amia calva fossil record dates back to the late Cretaceous.
This family comprises of one species, Amia calva.
References:
Nelson 2006; Helfman et al.