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Senegal Bichir

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polypteriformes
Family: Polypteridae
Genus: Polypterus
Species: P. Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates The Actinopterygii (the plural form of Actinopterygius) comprise the class of the ray-finned fishes. The bichirs are a family Polypteridae, of archaic-looking ray-finned fishes, the sole family in the order Polypteriformes. The bichirs are a family Polypteridae, of archaic-looking ray-finned fishes, the sole family in the order Polypteriformes. Polypterus is a Genus of Freshwater Fish in the Bichir family (family Polypteridae) of order Polypteriformes senegalus
Binomial name
Polypterus senegalus
Cuvier, 1829

The gray bichir, Polypterus senegalus, also known as the Senegal bichir and Cuvier's bichir, is sometimes called the dinosaur eel at many local pet chains - a misnomer, as the creature is not an eel. Baron Georges Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert Cuvier ( August 23 1769 &ndash May 13, 1832) was a French naturalist For the game see 1829 (board game. Year 1829 ( MDCCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display It is a prototypical species of the Polypterus genus, meaning most of its features are held across the genus. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. Polypterus is a Genus of Freshwater Fish in the Bichir family (family Polypteridae) of order Polypteriformes A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic

Contents

Appearance

The body is long and about as deep as it is wide. A serrated dorsal fin runs along most of the body until it meets the caudal fin. A dorsal fin is a Fin located on the backs of some Fishes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises as well as the (extinct The Anatomy of Fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of Water, which is much denser than air holds a relatively small amount of dissolved The pectoral fins attach just behind and below the gill openings and are the primary means of locomotion, providing a slow, graceful appearance. The Anatomy of Fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of Water, which is much denser than air holds a relatively small amount of dissolved P. senegalus is smaller than its brethren, reaching about 35. 5 cm (14").

A juvenile bichir forages for food.
A juvenile bichir forages for food.

The head is small and lizard-like with a gaping mouth and small eyes on either side. Since its eyesight is poor the bichir primarily hunts by smell. External nostrils protrude from the nose of the fish to enable this.

A modified swim bladder serves as a "lung", allowing the fish to periodically gulp air from the surface of the water. gas bladder (also fish maw, less accurately swim bladder or air bladder) is an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a Fish lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive In the aquarium bichirs can be observed dashing to the surface for this purpose. Provided the skin remains moist, the creature can remain out of the water for near indefinite periods of time.

Sex

Sexes can be told apart by looking at the anal fins. The Anatomy of Fish is primarily governed by the physical characteristics of Water, which is much denser than air holds a relatively small amount of dissolved Male bichirs would have a broader anal fin than the females. However, this is only true for mature males and not the young ones. Also, males seem to have thicker dorsal spines than the females, though normally, females tend to be larger than the males. In Human anatomy, the vertebral column ( backbone or spine) is a column of 34 Vertebrae the Sacrum, Intervertebral

Captivity

Bichirs are predatory fish and in captivity will take any live or dead animal that can be swallowed or broken apart and then swallowed. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two The only thing preventing a bichir from emptying an aquarium of smaller fish is its speed; the pectoral fins only allow for slow cruising, and while it can achieve amazing bursts of speed, it can't catch fish of average speed. An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a Vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which Water -dwelling Plants It should be noted, however, given enough time, any fish that can fit in the bichir's mouth will be eaten. It is ill advised to keep this fish with any other fish smaller than three inches.

Bichirs require a lot of floor space; the height of the tank doesn't matter. You should note that since these specimens can grow over 12" long, they should be kept in a 40+ gallon tank. There should be a gap of air in the tank allowing the bichir to gulp air, the tank can't be full of water. Bichirs are escape artists. Without a secure lid on an aquarium, the fish will eventually escape, and go quite a long distance before drying out and dying.

Bichirs will also take dry foods such as shrimp pellets and occasionally cichlid pellets as well as flakes. They will readily accept frozen bloodworms, blackworms, and other frozen foods. They will also accept earthworms. Take care to wash the worms after collecting them, and make sure no pesticides have been recently spread.

See also

References

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