Polypterus endlicheri

Polypterus endlicheri Heckel 1847, the saddled bichir, is one of the largest species of the Polypterus genus of freshwater fish.

Polypterus endlicheri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polypteriformes
Family: Polypteridae
Genus: Polypterus
Species:
P. endlicheri
Binomial name
Polypterus endlicheri
Heckel, 1847
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri Heckel 1847
Polypterus endlicherii - MHNT

Description

The 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).[3][4] 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.[3]

This fish is recorded to be piscivorous. Their diet also includes snails and crustaceans.[3] 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. endlicheri can live in aquaria with proper maintenance.[5]

Habitat and distribution

Polypterus endlicheri is recorded to be found in freshwater habitats within demersal depth ranges. This species is native to a tropical climate.[3]

P. endlicheri is found in the Nile River, the Chad Basin, the Niger River, the Volta River, and the Bandama River of Africa.[3] This species is native to Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Chad, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Sudan, Benin, and the Central African Republic.[5]

See also

References
  1. Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Polypteridae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  2. 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.
  3. "Polypterus endlicherii Heckel, 1847 Saddled bichir". Fish Base. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  4. "Saddled Bichir – Polypterus Endlicheri Endlicheri". Tropical Fish Site. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  5. "Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri Saddled Bichir". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 10 September 2013.


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