Bichir
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| The bichirs and reedfish (also called ropefish) comprise the Polypteridae, a family of archaic-looking ray-finned fishes and the sole family in the order Polypteriformes.
All species occur in freshwater habitats in tropical Africa and the Nile River system, mainly swampy, shallow floodplains and estuaries. Bichirs are elongated fish with a unique series of dorsal finlets which vary in number from seven to 18, instead of a single dorsal fin. Bichirs are nocturnal and feed on small vertebrates, crustaceans, and insects. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry Get back to Actinopterygii | |
| Saddled bichir | Senegal bichir |
Saddled bichir
| phylum | Chordata | The Saddled Bichir is one of the larger Polypterus species attaining a record maximum size of 30". The head is small and lizard-like with a large gaping mouth and small eyes on either side. Since its eyesight is poor the bichir primarily hunts by smell. The fish has a pair of primitive lungs instead of a swim bladder, allowing it to periodically gulp air from the surface of the water. Provided the skin remains moist, the creature can remain out of the water for near indefinite periods of time.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Bichir |
| class | Actinopterygii | |
| order | Polypteriformes | |
| family | Polypteridae | |
| genus | Polypterus | |
| species | P. endlicheri endlicheri |
Senegal bichir
| phylum | Chordata | The Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus) also known as the gray bichir and Cuvier's bichir, is sometimes called the "dinosaur eel" (a misnomer, as the creature is not an eel nor a dinosaur) or "dragon fish" in the pet trade. It is a prototypical species of fish in the Polypterus genus, meaning most of its features are held across the genus. Commonly kept in captivity by hobbyists. They are native from Africa where they are the most widespread species of the genus.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Bichir |
| class | Actinopterygii | |
| order | Polypteriformes | |
| family | Polypteridae | |
| genus | Polypterus | |
| species | P. senegalus |
