Polypterus congicus

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polypterus congicus
Young fish with external gill tufts.

Young fish with external gill tufts.

Systematics
Class : Ray fins (Actinopterygii)
Subclass : Cladistia
Order : Polypteriformes
Family : Pike (Polypteridae)
Genre : Common pike ( Polypterus )
Type : Polypterus congicus
Scientific name
Polypterus congicus
Boulenger , 1898

Polypterus congicus ( Syn .: P. endlicherii congicus ) is a freshwater fish from the family of pike-pikes (Polypteridae), which occurs in central Africa in most of the Congo Basin and in the estuaries of therivers flowingfrom the west into Lake Tanganyika , also in swamps and Lagoons on the west bank of the lake, rarely in the lake itself. The species is absent in the southern Congo Basin, the Mweru - Luapula - Bangweulu system.

features

Polypterus congicus becomes a maximum of 97 cm long and can reach a maximum weight of 4.4 kg. The elongated body, covered with ganoid scales arranged in oblique rows, is approximately round in cross section in the front two thirds. The last third of the body is flattened laterally. The fish are colored gray on the back, the belly is lighter and yellowish. There are six to nine dark transverse ligaments on the sides of the body. The fins show faintly visible dark spots. The lower jaw of the fish is slightly longer than the upper jaw and protrudes. Polypterus congicus has 55 to 59 scales in a row along the sideline , 46 to 52 scales in a row around the body, 11 to 16 scales in front of the first raft and 11 to 15 scales between the skull and the first raft. The number of dorsal flippers is 12 to 15. The anal fin is supported by 12 to 15 fin rays. The pectoral fins extend to the first raft.

Like all pike fish, Polypterus congicus is a bottom-dwelling fish species that can also breathe air through the swim bladder that acts as a lung .

literature

  • Suzuki, D., MC Brandley and M. Tokita, 2010. The mitochondrial phylogeny of an ancient lineage of ray-finned fishes (Polypteridae) with implications for the evolution of body elongation, pelvic fin loss, and craniofacial morphology in Osteichthyes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 1-12.
  • Pierre Brichard: The Big Book of Tanganyika Cichlids. With all the other fish on Lake Tanganyika. Bede Verlag GmbH. 1995, ISBN 978-3927997943

Web links