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Polypteriformes (Bichirs) >
Polypteridae (Bichirs)
Etymology: Polypterus: Greek, poly = a lot of + Greek, pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335); weeksii: Named after Rev. J.H. Weeks, collector of the type-specimen (Ref. 45628).
Eponymy: Rev John Henry Weeks (1861–1924) was a pioneering Baptist missionary in Congo (1882– 1912) who was also an ethnographer, explorer and diarist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / Klimaatzone / Diepte / distribution range
Ecologie
; zoet water demersaal. Tropical
Africa: middle Congo River basin (Ref. 3188) in Republic of Congo (Ref. 44840) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 42907).
Grootte / Gewicht / Leeftijd
Maturiteit: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 54.0 cm TL mannelijk / geslacht onbekend; (Ref. 3188)
Korte beschrijving
Determinatiesleutels | Morfologie | Morfometrie
Dorsale stekels (totaal) : 9 - 11; Anale stekels: 10 - 14. Body more or less compressed (Ref. 42873, Ref. 42901, Ref. 42907). Body depth 6.5 to 9.5 times in standard length; head length 4.25 to 5.5 times in standard length (Ref. 42907). Upper jaw slightly prominent or of equal length with lower jaw (Ref. 1878, Ref. 42907). Number of dorsal finlets: 9-11 (Ref. 42908, Ref. 51884). Number of branched dorsal and caudal rays: 15 (Ref. 49956). Pectoral fin not reaching dorsal fin origin (Ref. 42873, Ref. 45628). Ganoid scales (Ref. 42904): 57-65 lateral line scales, 44-48 scales around body, 20-26 predorsal scales (Ref. 42908, Ref. 44840, Ref. 44985). Dorsal side olive-green to gray colored, ventral side yellowish; 7 or 8 blackish bars bifurcating on the lower parts of the flanks (Ref. 1878, Ref. 4904, Ref. 44985). Fins are spotted, marbled, or irregularly barred with black (Ref. 4904).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: compressed.
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274)
Levenscyclus en paargedrag
Maturiteit | Voortplanting | Paaien | Eieren | Fecunditeit | Larven
Gosse, J.-P., 1984. Polypteridae. p. 18-29. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). Volume I. ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. 410 p. (Ref. 3188)
Status op de Rode Lijst van het IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Gevaar voor de mens
Harmless
Gebruik door de mens
Tools
Speciale rapporten
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Internetbronnen
Estimates based on models
Fylogenetische diversiteitsindex (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5003 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00457 (0.00197 - 0.01063), b=3.05 (2.85 - 3.25), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trofisch niveau (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Weerstandsvermogen (Ref.
120179): Hoog, minimale populatieverdubbelingstijd minder dan 15 maanden (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
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