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Cladistii (bichirs) > Polypteriformes (Bichirs) > Polypteridae (Bichirs)
Etymology: Polypterus: Greek, poly = a lot of + Greek, pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335); palmas: From its origin: 'Cape Palmas' (Ref. 46516).
More on author: Ayres.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: ? - 7.0; dH range: ? - 10. Tropical; 26°C - 28°C (Ref. 2060); 7°N - 10°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: coastal rivers of the Gulf of Guinea, from Guinea Bissau to Liberia and upper Cavally River in Côte d'Ivoire; also in upper Casamance River in Senegal (Ref. 28149, 81263). Reports from the Congo River basin (Ref. 44840, 51193) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 4537) probably refer to Polypterus polli, previously a subspecies of Polypterus palmas, and only known from the Congo River basin (Ref. 28149).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 28149)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 10; Anal spines: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 56 - 59. Diagnosis: Polypterus palmas is distinguished from other species of the genus by the upper jaw longer than lower jaw, pectoral fin not reaching the level of the first dorsal fin ray and 27-32 scales between occiput and first dorsal fin ray (Ref. 2835, 28149, 42908, 81263).

Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274)

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Hanssens, M.M., G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys Van Den Audenaerde, 1995. Subspecies in the Polypterus palmas complex (Brachiopterygii; Polypteridae) from West and Central Africa. Copeia 1995(3):694-705. (Ref. 28149)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 07 June 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00457 (0.00197 - 0.01063), b=3.05 (2.85 - 3.25), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 2.9 ±0.43 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=5 observed in Aquatium is probably too low; assuming > 10 fecundity (RF)).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100).

Polypterus palmas Ayres, 1850