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Polypterus ornatipinnis Boulenger, 1902

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 14 - 15. Subcylindrical body (Ref. 27292, Ref. 36901). Upper and lower jaw of equal length (Ref. 36901, Ref. 42907). Number of dorsal finlets: 9-11 (Ref. 42908, Ref. 51884). Dorsal fin origin well behind pectoral fin (Ref. 4967, Ref. 42873). Ganoid scales (Ref. 27292, Ref. 42904): 58-65 lateral line scales, 38-44 scales around body, 22-27 predorsal scales (Ref. 2970, Ref. 11970, Ref. 42907, Ref. 42908). Dorsal side grey-brown colored, marbled with clear whitish spots (Ref. 11970), the belly is white to yellowish (Ref. 27292). Head finely reticulated (Ref. 42873, Ref. 42901). Fins with white spots alternating with dark spots, forming a continuous bar (Ref. 11970).

Common Names

  • Mimbambala , Chokwe (Tshokwe) , Angola
  • Mumbambala , Chokwe (Tshokwe) , Angola
  • Tshikanga , Chokwe (Tshokwe) , Angola
  • Bichir pruhoploutvý , Czech , Czechia
  • Bichir zdobený , Czech , Czechia
  • Plettet bikir , Danish , Denmark
  • Ornate bichir , English , Tanzania
  • Ornate bichir , English , USA
  • Kirju hulkuim , Estonian , Estonia
  • Niiluse hulkuim , Estonian , Estonia
  • Kirjoniilinhauki , Finnish , Finland
  • 飾翅多鰭魚 , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • 饰翅多鳍鱼 , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • Konga , Not specified , Congo Dem Rp
  • Mukungo , Not specified , Congo Dem Rp
  • Nkunga ya moja batu , Not specified , Congo Dem Rp
  • Mukunga , Not specified (Songola (Binja dialect)) , Congo Dem Rp
  • Mrežasta mnogoplavutarica , Slovene , Slovenia
  • Samaki magamba , Swahili , Tanzania

    • Taxonomic Hierarchy

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Chordata

    Class: Cladistii

    Order: Polypteriformes

    Family: Polypteridae

    Genus: Polypterus

    Species: Polypterus ornatipinnis Boulenger, 1902

    Climate Zone

  • Tropical

    • Biology

    Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Inhabits calm waters of swamps and rivers (Ref. 11970). It feeds on worms and insect larvae when young, but takes larger food, mainly fish, when adult (Ref. 27292). It mainly hunts at night (Ref. 27292). In general they are more or less solitary fish and do not form schools (Ref. 27292).

    Habitat

    demersal

    Conservation Status

    Least Concern

    Threat to Humans

    Harmless