Birchirs Profile

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Polypterus palmas buettikoferi
Scientific name: Polypterus palmas buettikoferi* *(Steindachner, 1891)

Common name(s): Buettikofer's bichir

Origin: West Africa

Max reported size (SL): 353mm (14")

Description: The dorsal surface in front of the dorsal spines has forward-pointing "V-shaped" markings, which extend as diagonal bands onto the lateral surface. There are also diagonal bands on the flanks. Juveniles have a more dense colour pattern. The ventral surface is a uniform pale yellowish colour. Dorsal finlets have contrasting dark and light colouration. There are 7-10 dorsal spines.

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Polypterus weeksii
Scientific name: Polypterus weeksii* *(Boulenger, 1898)

Common name(s): Weeks' bichir, Fat-headed bichir, Mottled bichir

Origin: Central Africa: Congo river basin

Max reported size (TL): 540mm (22")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: carnivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.

Description: This species usually has a very clear distinction between the dark greyish-green dorsal surface and the whitish ventral surface. Several dark bands are present which may fork towards the bottom. The head is relatively large, giving rise to one of the common names of 'fat-headed' bichir. This species retains external gills much longer than most other Polypterus species. There are 9-11 dorsal finlets.

The Weeks' bichir seems to have a mild temperament and mixes well with other Polypterus species. However, the large mouth is capable of swallowing surprisingly large fishes, so any tankmates must be much bigger than the fish's mouth.

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Polypterus palmas polli
Scientific name: Polypterus palmas polli* *(Gosse, 1988)

Common name(s): Poll's bichir

Origin: West & Central Africa, Congo River

Max reported size (SL): 321mm (13")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: carnivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.


Description: Dorsal surface has large dark blotches forming a mottled pattern. Ventral surface has a uniform lighter colouration. The base of the pectoral fin has a large dark spot. 5-7 dorsal spines.

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Polypterus endlicheri congicus
Scientific name: Polypterus endlicheri congicus* *(Boulenger, 1898)

Common name(s): Congo bichir

Origin: Congo basin, Lake Tanganyika

Max reported size (TL): 970mm (39")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: carnivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.


Description: Colour can be yellowish-brown to grey. There are several dark vertical bands. Black spots are often present on the head region. The lower jaw is more prominent, extending beyond the upper jaw. Dorsal spines extend forward to the rear of the pectoral fins.

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Polypterus lapradei
Scientific name: Polypterus lapradei* *(Steindachner, 1869)

Synonyms: Polypterus bichir lapradei

Common name(s): None

Origin: Most of West Africa: found in Senegal River, Gambia River, Geba River, Volta River, Niger, Benoue River and Ouémé River.Also known from Lake Chad and Logone and Chari Rivers

Max reported size (TL): 740mm (30")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: piscivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.

Description: Grey to greenish-grey colouration, with a paler ventral surface. Horizontal bands evident on the upper surface from the head to the dorsal finlets, and extending about halfway along the side of the body from behind the gills. The flanks have irregular vertical bands. Prominent lower jaw longer than upper jaw. 13-17 dorsal spines.

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Polypterus delhezi
Scientific name: Polypterus delhezi* *(Boulenger, 1899)

Common name(s): Armoured bichir, banded bichir

Origin: Central Africa: Congo river, Upper and middle Congo

Max reported size (TL): 350mm (14")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gal

Diet: carnivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.

Description: The upper surface is greyish, with hints of green or yellowish colouration. The ventral surface is a uniform lighter colour. There are 7-8 dark vertical bands which vary in thickness between individuals. 10-13 dorsal finlets. The mouth is relatively small for the fish's size.

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Polypterus retropinnis
Scientific name: Polypterus retropinnis* *(Vaillant, 1899)

Synonyms: Polypterus sp "Congo"

Common name(s): Zaire Green bichir (originally applied to P. sp "Congo")

Origin: West and Central Africa

Max reported size (SL): 340mm (14")

Description: Polypterus sp "Congo" has similarities both to species of the palmas complex, and also P. weeksii. The body appears very elongated. In older specimens it is much less heavily built than P. weeksii, and does not have the large head of that species. The pattern is subdued and similar to the palmas species on the flanks. 5-7 dorsal spines.

It had been proposed that there were two subspecies of P. retropinnis: P. retropinnis lowei and P. retropinnis retropinnis. However, P. retropinnis lowei has been synonymised with P. palmas palmas.

However the identity of P. retropinnis has a new twist. In a recent paper describing the new species Polypterus mokelembembe, it was found that two of the three original type specimens of P. retropinnis differed from the third. These two specimens representing what has been known in the hobby as P. retropinnis have now been designated as P. mokelembembe. The third specimen is designated as the "lectotype" for P. retropinnis, and is the fish that had become known in the hobby as Polypterus sp "Congo" / Zaire Green bichir! Hence that species is now the "true" P. retropinnis.

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Polypterus ornatipinnis
Scientific name: Polypterus ornatipinnis* *(Boulenger, 1902)

Common name(s): Ornate bichir

Origin: Central and East Africa: Congo river basin, Lake Tanganyika

Max reported size (TL): 600mm (24")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Description: The striking black and yellow patterning of this species extends into the fins, making for a very attractively patterned bichir. The head has a finely reticulated pattern. 9-11 dorsal spines present.

This is the largest of the protuding upper jaw species of Polypterus.

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Polypterus senegalus senegalus
Scientific name: Polypterus senegalus senegalus* *(Cuvier, 1829)

Common name(s): Senegal bichir, Grey/Gray bichir, Dinosaur eel

Origin: Africa: Nile basin and West Africa, including Gambia, Niger, Senegal, Volta and Lake Chad basins.

Max reported size (TL): 505mm (20")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: omnivore

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.

Description: Uniform brownish-grey to olive colour on dorsal surface, ventral surface whitish. No banding on adults, very young juveniles show three horizontal bands. Upper jaw slightly longer than lower jaw. 8-11 dorsal finlets.

One of the more commonly available species, it is also one of the more active bichirs during daylight hours.

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Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri
Scientific name: Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri* *(Heckel, 1847)

Common name(s): Saddled bichir, Red bichir

Origin: Nigeria, Lake Chad, White Nile, Lake Chad, Chad basin, Niger, Volta, Bandama, Upper Comoé and Ouémé.

Max reported size (TL): 750mm (30")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: carnivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.


Description: Irregular vertical bands are present along the sides of the fish, which do not extend fully onto the ventral surface, which is a uniform whitish-yellow colour. Black spots are present on the head, body and caudal fin. Prominent lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw. 11-15 dorsal finlets.

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Polypterus katangae
Scientific name: Polypterus katangae* *(Poll, 1941)

Synonyms: Polypterus bichir katangae

Common name(s): None

Origin: Central Africa (Katanga region)

Max reported size (TL): 460mm (18")

Description: Olive-grey dorsal surface and whitish ventral surface. Lower jaw longer than upper jaw. 12-14 dorsal spines present.

There is a strong possibility that this species is synonymous with P. (endlicheri) congicus, as it occurs within the range of that species, and cannot be differentiated from it by meristic characters.

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Polypterus ansorgii
Scientific name: Polypterus ansorgii* *(Boulenger, 1910)

Synonyms: Polypterus ansorgei

Common name(s): Guinean bichir

Origin: West Africa (Guinea). Possibly distributed from Ogun River (Nigeria) to Corbal River (Guinea Bissau), although this wider distribution is unconfirmed and may arise from misidentification of P. bichir.

Max reported size (TL): 280mm (11")

Description: Greenish-black colouration with large dark blotches on the flanks. The jaws are of similar length, though the lower jaw is likely to protude slightly on mature specimens. The 12-15 dorsal finlets extend forward to the rear of the pectoral fins.

A rare bichir which appears to have a restricted natural distribution and is not generally exported for the aquarium trade. It is likely that it has been confused with other species (e.g. p47 of the Aquarien-Atlas vol. 6 shows P. palmas). The available description of this species is based on only a small number of museum specimens, and it is possible that characters such as the maximum size may be innacurate.

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Polypterus palmas palmas
Scientific name: Polypterus palmas palmas* *(Ayres, 1850)

Common name(s): Marbled bichir, Shortfin bichir, dinosaur eel

Origin:West Africa: Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone

Max reported size (SL): 298mm (12")

pH: 6.0 - 8.0

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gal

Temperature:72°F-82°F

Diet: carnivorous

Breeding: Egg-layer

Gender Diffrences: Male with thicker and wider anal fin than female.

Description: The dorsal area in front of the dorsal finlets has irregular small spots. The ventral surface has a uniform lighter colouration. The pectoral fins are usually spotted. The membranes of the dorsal finlets have contrasting light and dark colouration. 7-9 dorsal spines are present.

There is some confusion with respect to the identity of species within the P. palmas complex, with additional variants awaiting formal description.