Polypteriformes

E51118

Polypteriformes is an ancient order of ray-finned fishes that includes bichirs and reedfish, known for their elongated bodies, ganoid scales, and ability to breathe air.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (3)

Surface form Occurrences
Polypterus 3
Polypteridae 2
Erpetoichthys calabaricus 1

Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf order of fishes
taxonomic order
bodyShape elongated body
class Actinopterygii
commercialUse aquarium trade
commonName bichirs and reedfish
contrastWith teleost fishes
development larvae with external gills
dorsalFinType series of finlets
ecologicalRole predators of invertebrates and small fishes
evolutionaryStatus ancient lineage of ray-finned fishes
feedingType carnivorous
finType ray-finned
gasExchangeAdaptation obligate or facultative air breathing
geographicDistribution Africa
habitat freshwater
includes bichirs
reedfish
includesGenus Erpetoichthys
Polypteriformes self-linksurface differs
surface form: Polypterus
jawType toothed jaws
kingdom Animalia
locomotion benthic swimming
use of pectoral fins for walking-like movements
notableFeature external gills in larvae
retention of many primitive actinopterygian traits
spiracle present
phylogeneticPosition basal actinopterygian lineage
phylum Chordata
relatedTo other ray-finned fishes
reproduction oviparous
researchUse model for early actinopterygian evolution
respiration air-breathing
gills
paired lungs
scaleComposition ganoin
scaleType ganoid scales
scientificNameAuthorship Sauvage, 1880s (approximate historical period)
sensorySystem lateral line system
skeletonFeature heavily ossified skull
skeletonType bony fish
subclass Cladistia
tailType heterocercal-like tail
timePeriodOrigin Paleozoic or early Mesozoic
typeSpeciesGenus Polypteriformes self-linksurface differs
surface form: Polypterus

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Cladistia extantRepresentative Polypteriformes
this entity surface form: Polypteridae
Cladistia includes Polypteriformes
Cladistia includes Polypteriformes
this entity surface form: Polypterus
Cladistia includes Polypteriformes
this entity surface form: Erpetoichthys calabaricus
Cladistia includesFamily Polypteriformes
this entity surface form: Polypteridae
Polypteriformes includesGenus Polypteriformes self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Polypterus
Actinopterygii includesOrder Polypteriformes
Polypteriformes typeSpeciesGenus Polypteriformes self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Polypterus