Polypterus endlicherii, the saddled bichir, is one of the largest species of the Polypterus genus of freshwater fish.
| Polypterus endlicherii | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Polypteriformes |
| Family: | Polypteridae |
| Genus: | Polypterus |
| Species: | P. endlicherii
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| Binomial name | |
| Polypterus endlicherii Heckel, 1847
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| Synonyms[2][3] | |
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Named in honor of botanist Stephan Endlicher (1804–1849), who apparently discovered the species in the fish collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum (Vienna).[4]
Description
editThe species reaches a maximum recorded length of about 63 cm (24.8 in) as an unsexed male. The maximum recorded weight was about 3.3 kg (7.3 lb).[5][6] It can be identified by its flattened head with a prominent lower jaw that is larger than its upper jaw. Its dorsal side is of a green and yellow color. Its head and fins also have black spots on them.[5]
This fish is recorded to be piscivorous. Their diet also includes snails and crustaceans.[5] Their reproduction cycle begins in the rainy season when the chemistry of the water and temperature change. This species is also known to be an egg scatterer. P. endlicherii can live in aquaria with proper maintenance.[7]
Habitat and distribution
editPolypterus endlicherii is recorded to be found in freshwater habitats within demersal depth ranges. This species is native to a tropical climate.[5]
Polypterus endlicherii is found in the Nile River, the Chad Basin, the Niger River, the Volta River, and the Bandama River of Africa.[5] This species is native to Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Chad, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Sudan, Benin, and the Central African Republic.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Lalèyè, P.; Entsua-Mensah, M.; Getahun, A. (2020). "Polypterus endlicherii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T60938000A60939789. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T60938000A60939789.en. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Polypteridae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ Van Der Laan, Richard; Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ronald (11 November 2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (1): 1–230. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1. PMID 25543675.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (23 February 2023). "Family POLYPTERIDAE Bonaparte 1835 (Bichirs)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Polypterus endlicherii". FishBase. September 2013 version.
- ^ "Saddled Bichir – Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri". Tropical Fish Site. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri Saddled Bichir". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
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