Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Adults inhabit river and lake fringes, swamps and floodplains (Ref. 28714). In the Lake Victoria basin found in open lakes and marginal swamps, while in the Lake Tanganyika basin only found near rivers and deltas (Ref. 4967). Juveniles occur in matted roots of papyrus (Ref. 34291). Adults able to survive in streams and swamps that are completely dry for long periods of the year, withstanding desiccation on floodplains by aestivating in cocoons until the next rains, breathing air by a small passage leading to the outside (Ref. 45484). Obligate air-breather (Ref. 126274) under laboratory conditions (Ref. 34291), but under certain conditions lungfish in the wild may not be obligate air-breathers and the use of aerial respiration may be a function of ecological as well as physiological factors (Ref. 58531). Mature individuals breed during the flood season (Ref. 28714). One or several females spawn in burrows which are dug and cleaned by the male, who later guards the eggs and the young. Principal diet of adults and sub-adults consists of mollusks, but small fishes and insects are also eaten in small quantities; young individuals less than 35 cm TL feed almost exclusively on insects (Ref. 34291).
在實驗室下面為條件它是一個必須的呼吸空氣的魚類 (參考文獻 34291), 但是在荒野的特定的環境肺魚下面可能不是使負義務呼吸空氣的魚類與使用呼吸空氣可能是一個生態學的功能以及生理學的因素.(參考文獻 58531) 它居住於河與湖穗緣，沼澤與洪泛區。 (參考文獻 28714) 在維多利亞湖它被發現於開放的湖與沼澤邊緣, 在坦噶尼喀湖流域鄰近河與三角州。 (參考文獻 4967) 稚魚被發現於紙草的纏結根。 (參考文獻 34291) Protopterus aethiopicus 是生活於能的溪流與沼澤那是完全乾長年地.(參考文獻 45484) 直到被通到的一個小通道呼吸空氣的下一個雨在囊袋中的夏眠洪泛區上抵抗乾燥那外面.(參考文獻 45484) 它在洪水季節的時候繁殖。 (參考文獻 28714) 一隻或數隻雌性產卵於中洞穴那是藉由挖而且清理雄魚, 誰稍後保衛卵與幼魚。 成魚的主要食性與亞成魚由軟體動物組成，但是小魚與昆蟲也被吃少量地; 幼魚少於 35 公分TL 幾乎只捕食昆蟲.(參考文獻 34291)
