Australia – South Western Region, June 2009

The Salamander fish, Lepidogalaxias salamandroides , an endemic to south western Australia – only found at a very limited area – is probably one of the most unique fishes evolved on Planet Earth – a real neck-bending fish, like we, Homo sapiens, can bend our necks…
Heiko Bleher was able on a field-trip in June 2009, to study this amazing and world-wide unique fish in nature…

The Salamander fish, which moves like a Salamander (therefore its name), Lepidogalaxias salamandroides, has not only a unique neck-bending ability, but much more amazing features.They have the ability to survive in ephemeral habitats by burrowing into the sandy substrate to escape the desiccation of its habitat during the summer – to reappear almost immediately after rainfall adds water to the surface.

They are true „survivors“ and the nature of their aestivation and what environmental cues trigger it remains a mistery to man. As well as their unique neck-bending evolution, unknown to any other fish on planet earth.
Their morphological adaptations that facilitate burrowing include a robust, wedge-shaped skull and a very flexible vertebral column – again unknown to any other fish.

^{_{The habitat of Lepidogalaxias salamandroides}}

Here You can see a video of its movements and neck-bending ability…

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