Amiidae is a family of primitive ray-finned fish. Only one species, Amia calva, the bowfin, survives today, although additional species in all four subfamilies are known from Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Eocene fossils.^[1]

Bowfins are now found throughout eastern North America, typically in slow-moving backwaters, canals and ox-bow lakes. When the oxygen level is low (as often happens in still waters), bowfins can rise to the surface and gulp air into its swim bladder, which is lined with blood vessels and can serve as a primitive lung.

Cyclurus kehreri fossil

Taxonomy

The family is divided into four subfamilies, with eleven genera described.^[1]

• Amiidae
  • Subfamily Amiinae
    • Genus Amia
    • Genus †Cyclurus
    • Genus †Pseudoamiatus
  • Subfamily †Amiopsinae
    • Genus †Amiopsis
  • Subfamily †Solnhofenamiinae
    • Genus †Solnhofenamia
  • Subfamily †Vidalamiinae
    

    

    Bowfin, Coosa River, Wetumpka, Alabama
    • Genus †Calamopleurus
    • Genus †Maliamia
    • Genus †Melvius
    • Genus †Pachyamia
    • Genus †Vidalamia
  • Subfamily "incertae sedis"
    • Genus †Nipponamia

References