Polypterus retropinnis Vaillant, 1899
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 9; Anal spines: 12 - 15; Vertebrae: 55 - 58. Diagnosis: Polypterus retropinnis is distinguished from all other species of Polypterus except P. mokelembembe, P. ornatipinnis, P. teugelsi, P. polli and P. palmas in having a high predorsal-scale count: 26-34 vs. 11-25 (Ref. 56367). It differs from P. ornatipinnis, P. teugelsi and P. polli in having 56-59 lateral-line scales vs. 61-65 in P. ornatipinnis and P. teugelsi and 52-55 in P. polli; from P. palmas by having a single large black blotch on the pectoral-fin base vs. numerous small spots on posterior part of base; and from P. mokelembembe by having a narrower first dorsal-fin spine being 4,6-6,1% of head length vs. 6,4-8,1%, a greater internostril distance being 14,3-18,0% of head length vs. 11,6-13,7%, and more pectoral-fin rays, 30-34 vs. 23-29 (Ref. 56367). Jaws mostly about the same length, the upper jaw sometimes a little longer than lower jaw; pectoral fin not reaching dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 43035, 46852). In addition, living specimens of Polypterus retropinnis differ from all congeners in their iris coloration, which consists of creamy white areas and black dots alternating with each other around the iris; however, this character state is rarely visible in preserved specimens (Ref. 56367).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Cladistii
Order: Polypteriformes
Family: Polypteridae
Genus: Polypterus
Species: Polypterus retropinnis Vaillant, 1899
Climate Zone
Biology
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Mostly found in little rivers, swamps and flooded zones (Ref. 4910, 41580, 46852). Carnivorous (Ref. 41580).
Habitat
demersal
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Threat to Humans
Harmless