West African bichir
📖 Overview
West African bichir (Polypterus retropinnis) is a ray-finned fish of the family Polypteridae. It inhabits freshwater waters in benthic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 34 cm. With a trophic level of 2.6, it is an omnivore, consuming both plant and animal matter. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 9; Anal spines: 12 - 15; Vertebrae: 55 - 58. Diagnosis: Polypterus retropinnis is distinguished from all other species of Polypterus except P. mokelembembe, P. ornatipinnis, P. teugelsi, P. polli and P. palmas in having a high predorsal-scale count: 26-34 vs. 11-25 . It differs from P. ornatipinnis, P. teugelsi and P. polli in having 56-59 lateral-line scales vs. 61-65 in P. ornatipinnis and P. teugelsi and 52-55 in P. polli; from P. palmas by having a single large black blotch on the pectoral-fin base vs. numerous small spots on posterior part of base; and from P. mokelembembe by having a narrower first dorsal-fin spine being 4,6-6,1% of head length vs. 6,4-8,1%, a greater internostril distance being 14,3-18,0% of head length vs. 11,6-13,7%, and more pectoral-fin rays, 30-34 vs. 23-29 . Jaws mostly about the same length, the upper jaw sometimes a little longer than lower jaw; pectoral fin not reaching dorsal-fin origin . In addition, living specimens of Polypterus retropinnis differ from all congeners in their iris coloration, which consists of creamy white areas and black dots alternating with each other around the iris; however, this character state is rarely visible in preserved specimens . : elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
This species is territorial, with territory holders threatening intruders. The attacker starts the encounter by raising its dorsal fin spines and emitting staccato thumping sounds; both fish may continue by biting at each other, or one may submit and flee, emitting drawn-out moans.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical Central Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polypterus retropinnis retropinnis | Vaillant | 1899 | Synonym |
| Polypterus retropinus | Vaillant | 1899 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 30 records indexed .
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