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Ornate bichir — printable fact sheet
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Ornate bichir
Polypterus ornatipinnis
The ornate bichir is a striking, primitive freshwater fish native to central and eastern Africa. Recognizable by its elongated body, thick armor-like scales, and dramatic black-and-yellow patterning, it is one of the most visually distinctive members of the Polypteridae family. …
Did you know?
- The ornate bichir can survive out of water for hours, as long as its skin stays moist.
- Ornate bichirs can walk short distances on land using their strong pectoral fins. They are sometimes called 'living fossils' because their lineage dates back over 100 million years. Juveniles possess external gills similar to those of amphibian larvae.
What I learned
Draw the ornate bichir
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