Erpetoichthys
| Reedfish | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Subclass: | Chondrostei |
| Order: | Polypteriformes |
| Family: | Polypteridae |
| Genus: |
Erpetoichthys J. A. Smith, 1865 |
| Species: | E. calabaricus |
| Binomial name | |
|
Erpetoichthys calabaricus J. A. Smith, 1865 |
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| Synonyms | |
|
Calamoichthys calabaricus |
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Calamoichthys calabaricus
(J. A. Smith, 1865)
The reedfish, ropefish (more commonly used in the United States), or snakefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a species of freshwater fish in the bichir family and order. It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to West and Central Africa. The reedfish possesses a pair of lungs in addition to gills, allowing it to survive in very oxygen-poor water. It is threatened by habitat loss through palm oil plantations and urban development.
The reedfish reaches a maximum total length of 37 cm (15 in). It has an eel-like, elongated body without a trace of a ventral fin. The long dorsal fin consist of a series of well-separated spines, each supporting one or several articulated rays and a membrane. The reedfish possesses a pair of lungs, enabling it to breathe atmospheric air. This allows the species to survive in water with low dissolved oxygen content and to survive for an intermediate amount of time out of water. Larvae have conspicuous external gills, making them resemble salamander larvae.
The genus name derives from the Greek words erpeton (creeping thing) and ichthys (fish).
The reedfish inhabits slow-moving or standing, brackish or fresh, warm water at temperatures of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). It occurs in Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria and possibly the Republic of the Congo, spanning the area from the Ogun River to the Chiloango River.
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