Mottled bichir (Polypterus weeksii)

Scientific name: Polypterus weeksii Boulenger, 1898

Mottled bichir (Polypterus weeksii)

The Mottled bichir (Polypterus weeksii) is a freshwater fish of the family Polypteridae. Native range: Africa, Central basin of Congo River.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 1014. Body more or less compressed. Body depth 6.5 to 9.5 times in standard length; head length 4.25 to 5.5 times in standard length. Upper jaw slightly prominent or of equal length with lower jaw. Number of dorsal finlets: 9-11. Number of branched dorsal and caudal rays: 15. Pectoral fin not reaching dorsal fin origin. Ganoid scales: 57-65 lateral line scales, 44-48 scales around body, 20-26 predorsal scales. Dorsal side olive-green to gray colored, ventral side yellowish; 7 or 8 blackish bars bifurcating on the lower parts of the flanks. Fins are spotted, marbled, or irregularly barred with black.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Polypterus weeksii
Family
Polypteridae (Bichirs)
Order
Polypteriformes (Bichirs)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
54.0
Environment
Freshwater; demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Central basin of Congo River.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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