Shortfin bichir

Polypterus palmas

Polypterid Fish from the Congo Basin

Tropical
Coastal
Upper river
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
Africa
Elongated
Medium
Tropical fish

Polypterus palmas, also called the shortfin or marbled bichir, is a fish in the family Polypteridae found in freshwater environments throughout West Africa.

Class: Bichirs and Reedfish
Order: Bichirs and Reedfish
Family: Polypteridae
Genus: Polypterus
Maximum length: 35.3 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: 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 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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