16. Scale from an animal with a 2 chambered heart

Whoa! That is a big fish dinner.

Definition: An animal with a two chambered heart is a creature such as a fish, that uses gills for breathing. These animals have unique hearts that are not as complex as the hearts of mammals.

What the specimen is: This is an Australian Lungfish. They are native to the fresh waters near Queensland Australia. The scientific name for this species is Neoceratodus forsteri. 

Where we found it: This fish was found in the aquatic and reptile area of the LA Zoo. 

How it relates to scale from an animal with a two chambered heart: 
Like all fish, the Australian lungfish uses gills to breathe, and has a two chambered heart made up of the atria, which receive blood, and the ventricles, which pump blood. Unlike other creatures, fish use their gills to replenish the oxygen in their blood. The scales of the fish are also shown.