This prehistoric survivor breathes air and has been hiding in plain sight for eons.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The bowfin is a living relic from the Jurassic period, a voracious predator that can gulp air to survive in oxygen-poor waters. While long considered a singular species, recent genetic research suggests this ancient fish family is far more diverse than scientists previously realized, with multiple distinct lineages hiding in North America.

The bowfin, or Amia calva, is the sole surviving member of the order Amiiformes, a lineage that dates back to the Jurassic period between 201.3 and 145 million years ago. Often labeled a living fossil, this fish possesses unique anatomical traits, such as a highly vascularized gas bladder that functions like a lung. This adaptation allows the bowfin to survive in stagnant, low-oxygen environments by rising to the surface to inhale air, a critical survival mechanism during warmer months when water oxygen levels plummet.

For decades, the bowfin was thought to be a solitary representative of its family. However, recent morphological and genetic investigations have challenged this consensus. Evidence indicates that what we once grouped as one species may actually consist of two to four separate species. These distinct groups likely split from a common ancestor between one and three million years ago. One lineage occupies the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins, while another inhabits the rivers and streams stretching from eastern Alabama to the Atlantic coast of Virginia and down into Florida.

Beyond its evolutionary significance, the bowfin is a formidable generalist predator. It uses strong conical teeth to feed on a varied diet including crustaceans, insects, snakes, amphibians, and other fish. Males play a dedicated role in reproduction, constructing nests in vegetation and guarding the fertilized eggs and young. While they can live up to 30 years, they are not invincible; they remain prey for alligators and are frequently targeted by sport anglers across their range in eastern North America.

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