Bowfin — printable fact sheet

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Bowfin

Amia calva

The Bowfin is a primitive freshwater fish native to North America, notable for its elongated body, long dorsal fin, and rounded tail. It is the sole surviving species of the order Amiiformes, a group that first appeared over 150 million years ago. Bowfins are highly adaptable, t…

Classification

Fish

Family

Amiidae

Habitat

Freshwater swamps, rivers, and lakes

Diet

Carnivore

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

10–12 years (occasionally up to 30 years in the wild)

Weight

2.5–6.5 kg (5.5–14.3 lbs)

Scientific name

Amia calva

Did you know?

Despite their fierce appearance, bowfins are not related to true pikes or gars, but represent a unique evolutionary lineage dating back over 150 million years.
Bowfins can gulp air at the surface to survive in oxygen-poor waters. Males guard their nests and young aggressively. Their lineage dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.

What I learned

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