Polypterus retropinnis Vaillant, 1899

West African bichir

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Polypteriformes \| Polypteridae
Synonyms	Polypterus retropinnis retropinnis, ... more
Common names	Bichir alimský, Vestafrikansk bikir, 后翼多鳍鱼, ... more

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Main reference

Gosse, J.-P. 1984. (Ref. 3188)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 32.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3188)

Environment

Demersal; freshwater

Climate / Range

Tropical

Africa: central Congo River basin and Ogooué River (Ref. 3188).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 79; Anal spines: 1215; Vertebrae: 57 - 58. Subcylindrical body (Ref. 43035). Jaws mostly about the same length, the upper jaw sometimes a little longer than lower jaw (Ref. 46852). Internostril distance 14.3-18.0% of head length (Ref. 56367). Predorsal length 55.7-63.2% of SL (Ref. 51884). Number of dorsal finlets: 7-9 (Ref. 56367). First dorsal spine narrow, 4.6-6.1% of head length (Ref. 56367). Number of dorsal and caudal rays: 13-16 (Ref. 51884, 56367). Pectoral fin not reaching dorsal fin origin (Ref. 43035). Ganoid scales (Ref. 42904): 56-58 lateral line scales; 30-38 scales around body; 26-34 predorsal scales, 40-46 prepelvic scales (Ref. 56367). Dorsal surface of the body is gray or brown colored, well separated from the ventral surface, which is yellowish (Ref. 46852). Reticulated pattern on dorsal side with olive-colored spots (Ref. 41580); also lower jaw with black spots, which separates it from Polypterus palmas (Ref. 44841, 46861). The pectoral fin, yellow at its base, with a black spot on the distal side (Ref. 41580, 51884, 56367). Other fins have brown spots (Ref. 41580).

Mostly found in little rivers, swamps and flooded zones (Ref. 4910, Ref. 41580, Ref. 46852). Carnivorous (Ref. 41580).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariums


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML
Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Binohlan, Crispina B.

Modified by Boden, Gert

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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