Polypterus senegalus

Polypterus senegalus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polypteriformes
Family: Polypteridae
Genus: Polypterus
Species:
P. senegalus
Binomial name
Polypterus senegalus
Cuvier, 1829
Subspecies
  • P. s. meridionalis (Poll 1941)
  • P. s. senegalus Cuvier 1829
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Polypterus arnaudii Duméril 1870
  • Polypterus meridionalis Poll 1942

Polypterus senegalus, commonly known as the Senegal bichir, gray bichir or Cuvier's bichir, is an African species of ray-finned fish in the bichir family, Polypteridae. It is a typical example of polypterid fishes, as most of its defining physical features are common across the genus, such as its ancient, lungfish- or arowana-like appearance, the ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen, and its armor-like scales. These factors have influenced the species' popularity in captivity, and it is commonly kept by aquarists and other hobbyists.[4][5][6][7][8]

P. senegalus is sometimes, confusingly, called the "dinosaur eel" or "dragon fish", among other misnomers; however, the bichir is not an eel, nor is it a reptile or dinosaur.

  1. ^ Lalèyè, P. (2020). "Polypterus senegalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T182615A58331540. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T182615A58331540.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Polypteridae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Polypteridae" (PDF). Deeplyfish- fishes of the world. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. ^ Berkovitz, Barry; Shellis, Peter (2017). The Teeth of Non-Mammalian Vertebrates. Academic Press. pp. 43–111. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-802850-6.00004-7. ISBN 9780128028506. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. ^ Khardina, Natasha. "Polypterus senegalus". Biotope Aquarium. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Polypterus senegalus – Grey Bichir – Senegal Bichir". AquaInfo.
  7. ^ Milner, James. "Dinosaur Bichir: Care and Feeding for the Polypterus Senegalus Fish". The Aquarium Club. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. ^ Cruz, Tess. "Polypterus senegalus". FishBase. Retrieved 26 April 2021.