Polypterus congicus, the Congo bichir, is a species of bichir with a maximum recorded size of 970 millimetres (38 in). The colour also varies from yellowish brown to grey, darker in the top, paler in the ventral area. It has a pattern of around 8 irregular vertical bands along the flanks of the fish, that do not extend completely onto the ventral surface. The lower jaw is prominent, much like Polypterus endlicherii. The male has a wider and thicker anal fin. These fish are commonly sold as pets.

Congo bichir
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polypteriformes
Family: Polypteridae
Genus: Polypterus
Species:
P. congicus
Binomial name
Polypterus congicus
Boulenger, 1898
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Polypterus endlicherii congicus (Boulenger 1898)
  • Polypterus bichir katangae (Poll 1941)
  • Polypterus katangae Poll 1941

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Moelants, T. (2010). "Polypterus congicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T182116A7805072. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T182116A7805072.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Polypteridae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. ^ 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.