Lungfish survive droughts in mud cocoons
African lungfish endure severe droughts by burrowing into mud and forming protective cocoons, entering a dormant state called estivation that sustains them for months.
Lungfish, ancient fish with both gills and primitive lungs, have a remarkable survival strategy for droughts. When rivers dry up, African lungfish burrow into the mud and secrete a mucus that hardens into a protective cocoon. Inside this airtight shelter, they enter estivation, a dormant state similar to hibernation, where their metabolism slows dramatically.
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