bichir

bichir
/bich"euhr/, n.
any of several primitive freshwater African fishes of the genus Polypterus having functional lungs as well as gills.
[‡1965-70; < F < dial. Ar abu shir]

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fish
also called  lobefin,  

      any of about 10 species of tropical African fishes of the genus Polypterus. Bichirs and the eel-like reedfish, Calamoichthys (sometimes called Erpetoichthys calabaricus), are of the family Polypteridae, order Polypteriformes. Like the sturgeons and paddlefishes, they are thought to be members of the subclass Chondrostei, although some authorities question this.

      Bichirs are about 0.6 to 0.9 m (2 to 3 feet) long and prey on worms, small fishes, and other animals. They apparently spawn in swamps during floods. They have fleshy lobes in the pectoral fins, thick ganoid (hard, rhombic, enameled) scales, and functional lungs. The dorsal fin is a series of sharp spines, each with a flaglike end cluster of fin rays. The bichir is eaten in some areas.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Bichir — Bi*chir , n. [Native name.] (Zo[ o]l.) A remarkable ganoid fish ({Polypterus bichir}) found in the Nile and other African rivers. See {Brachioganoidei}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • bichir — ˈbichə(r) noun ( s) Etymology: French : a large primitive fish (Polypterus bichir) of the order Cladistia found in the upper Nile and certain neighboring waters and esteemed as food …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bichir family — The Bichir family (Arabic,بشير) is a prominent Mexican family of entertainers of Lebanese origin.Prominent members are: *Alejandro Bichir, an actor *Marisol Nájera, an actress wife of AlejandroAnd their three sons, referred to as the Bichir… …   Wikipedia

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  • bichir — noun /ˈbiːtʃər,bɪˈʃiːr,ˈbɪtʃər/ A group of ray finned fish of the family Polypteridae in the order Polypteriformes …   Wiktionary

  • bichir — n. any of many freshwater ganoid fish with functional lungs and gills found in the Nile and other rivers in Africa …   English contemporary dictionary

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