Amiidae

Amiidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Amiiformes
Superfamily:	Amioidea
Family:	Amiidae Bonaparte, 1838
subfamilies
see text

The Amiidae are a family of basal ray-finned fishes. The bowfin is the only species to survive today, although additional species in all four subfamilies of Amiidae are known from Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Eocene fossils.

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), the bowfin 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.

File:Cyclurus kehreri 001.jpg

Cyclurus kehreri fossil

Taxonomy

The family is divided into four subfamilies, with 11 genera described:

• Amiidae
  • Subfamily Amiinae
    • Genus Amia
    • Genus †Cyclurus
    • Genus †Pseudoamiatus
  • Subfamily †Amiopsinae
    • Genus †Amiopsis
  • Subfamily †Solnhofenamiinae
    • Genus †Solnhofenamia
  • Subfamily †Vidalamiinae
    File:Bowfin063007Coosa.jpg

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