Guinean bichir (Polypterus ansorgii) fish species and information / pictures of Guinean bichir - Polypterus ansorgii

Guinean bichir (Polypterus ansorgii) fish species information

Scientific Name
Polypterus ansorgii

Common Name
Guinean bichir

Biology
Dorsal spines : 12 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Subcylindrical body. Upper and lower jaw of equal length. Advanced dorsal fin with 12-15 dorsal finlets. Pectoral fin reaching first dorsal spine. Ganoid scales : 55-62 lateral line scales, 42-46 scales around body, 11-13 predorsal scales. Lateral line scales of adults are notched on the posterior border. The color is greenish-black with large black blotches on the flanks.

Classification

Classified By

Boulenger, 1910

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Bichirs (Polypteriformes)

Family

Bichirs (Polypteridae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: described from the Corbal River in Guinea Bissau and recently reported in the Niger basin near Kouroussa in Guinea and in lake Kainji and the Ogun River in Nigeria.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal

Trophic Level

3.32 s.e. 0.48 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

28.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (25 of 100)

Resilience

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

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)