Polypterus weeksii

Polypterus weeksii

Polypterus weeksii is a species in the family of bichirs ( Polypteridae ). The maximum of 54 inches long expectant fish live in the middle basin of the Congo. Like all bichirs he lives close to the ground and feeds on prey on smaller animals.

Features

Polypterus weeksii is laterally compressed more than other bichirs. The upper jaw is slightly longer or equal in length to the lower jaw. On the back it has the typical nine to eleven for bichirs Flössel. The dorsal fin has nine to eleven fin rays, the anal fin 10 to 14, the number of split -fin rays at the end of the dorsal fin and the tail fin is 15 The pectoral fins applied do not reach for the first Flössel.

As with all Flösselhechten his body is covered with hard Ganoidschuppen. The number of scales in a row along the body is 57 to 65, a range around the body has 44 to 48 shed. Before the Flösseln are 20 to 26 scales.

The fish are olive green to gray, the belly yellow. On the flanks Polypterus weeksii has seven to eight transverse bands, the two share in the lower part. The fins are black dotted or striped irregular. Juveniles have a conspicuous black spot on each Flössel.