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Ever wonder how they gave scientific names to Polypterids or where they got their names from? Here you go, did a little bit of research. Just correct me if I'm wrong. I placed the two genus of the Ropefish as of right now both are being use.
-Erpetoichthys = Herpet(reptile)+ichthys(fish): Meaning, "reptile fish." Refers to the reptilian look or snake like appearance.
-Calamoichthys = Calamus (quill or spadix of reed) Refers to the ganoid scales that resemble the flowering spadix of reeds. Hence the name reedfish.
-Calabaricus = Calabar (named after Calabar River in Nigeria)+icus (usually added to the name of the place where it came from.
-Polypterus = Poly(many)+pteron(wing): Meaning, "many wings." Refers to the multiple hard dorsal spines and finlets of the bichir.
-Bichir = The word bichir came from the word "Abu Shir." An Arabic dialect refers to any fish in the Nile River, Egypt that resembles a spiny armoured fish. Was later mispronounced by French naturalist. They thought the "A" was referred to a single fish. Which is use to refers by English to describe a single object. So they only thought about "Bu Shir". Thus we end up with the word "Bichir" or else we probably have the word "Abichir".
-Lapradei = Named after Émile Pinet-Laprade. Former governor of Senegal from 1822-1869. To honor his death the year this fish was describe.
-Congicus = Congo (named after Congo river basin)+icus (usually added to the name of where it came from)
-Endlicheri = Named after a botanist, Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher. Who discovered this fish in the fish collection of Natural History Museum in Vienna.
-Ansorgii = Named after William John Ansorge. A physician and zoologist who collected in Africa.
-Delhezi = Named after Paul Delhez. His collection and field observation helped prepared Boulenger's book of Congo fishes.
-Polli = Named after Max Fernand Leon Poll. A Belgian ichthyologist. He proposed the name, but did not describe the fish. The name was supposed to be Polypterus palmas congicus but the name congicus was already occupied by Polypterus endlicheri congicus at that time.
-Palmas = Named after Cape Palmas. A locality in Liberia.
-Beuttikoferi = Name after Dr. Johann Büttikofer. A Swiss zoologist, best known as a "Father of Liberian Natural History."
-Senegalus = Named after Senegal river basin.
-Meridionalis = Meridies (south)+aris. Meridional. Meaning, native to southern area or a creature of the southern area.
-Mokelembembe = Named after a cryptic creature called "Mokele-mbembe" in the Congo basin that was thought to be a sauropod. A type of long neck dinosaur. We normally refers to dinosaurs as old, so it was given that name. Mokele-mbembe was thought to be existing today in our modern times. The name was given to this fish as Polypterus mokelembebe, considered as the sister group to all Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish). Or the grand father of ray-finned fish.
-Tuegelsi = Named after Guy Tuegels. Curator of fishes at the Royal Museum of Central Africa, for his “myriad influential contributions to the systematics of African freshwater fishes”
-Retropinnis = Retro(back)+pinnis or pinna(fins). Referring to the dorsal fins of the fish that are set way back of the body.
-Ornatipinnis = Ornatus or Ornate (decorated with complex pattern)+pinnis or pinna(fins). Referring to the well decorated patterns of this fish on all fins.
-Weeksii = Named after Rev. J. H. Weeks. He collected this fish on his mission station at Monsembe upper Congo River, Zaire.
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Ok time to learn the proper way of writing latin/scientific names of Polypterids or any fish in particular. Also the proper way of adding the location it was caught from. As many seems are still confuse and been asking repeated questions on what's the differences of this certain fish to this certain fish. Even though they are just the same fish.
A good example of many people's mistakes that will confuse many are when they wrote down:
-Dabola lap
-Dabola endli
-Sp. dabola.
To many this is just similar species. However, they are actually not. So it's best to write them down properly to prevent confusion.
Dabola lap should be Polypterus bichir lapradei "Dabola" or lap "dabola" for short. Which is a lapradei caught in Dabola. It is not an endlicheri nor sp. dabola. It's a lapradei caught somewhere in dabola. Same thing with Dabola endli, it's should be Polypterus endlicheri "Dabola" or endli "dabola for short. It's an actual endlicheri caught somewhere in Dabola area. Now for the sp. dabola. It's should be Polypterus sp. "dabola" just sp. "dabola". It's not an endlicheri, it's not a lapradei. But an unknown species caught somewhere in Dabola. That's why it was labeled "sp." or "species". Always place the location where it was caught from at the end of the latin name. Regardless you place the full latin name or without the genus name. As long as you place the location it was caught in "quotation marks".
Another example would be koliba lap. Many people been asking me, "What's are the difference between Koliba lap and sp. koliba?". They are just the same fish. If people or seller just write down the proper latin names this will stop many of the confusion. So it's best to write it down as Polypterus sp. "koliba" or if you want it short. Sp. "koliba". Or best yet, Polypterus bichir lapradei "Koliba" or Polypterus sp. cf. "Lapradei". Not just Koliba lap. Always place the location caught at the end. Yes sp. "koliba" is a western type lapradei but it's still place as unknown species.
So normally we label them in Genus name first. Then the latin name that was given to that certain species. Fallowed by the location it was caught from in quotation marks.
Genus: Polypterus
Species: Endlicheri
Location: "Tinkisso"
Polypterus Endlicheri "Tinkisso" Or endli "tinkisso".
If the species is unknown we normally place "sp.", "spec." which means "species". Then place the location it was caught from or the characteristic of the fish.
-Polypterus sp. "Dabola"
-Polypterus sp. "Golddust"
-Polypterus sp. "Zaire Green"
Example would be Polypterus sp. "Dabola". An unknown Polypterus found in Dabola area. Another example would be. Polypterus sp. "goldust". Meaning, it's an unknown Polypterus that have some Gold dust characteristic or gold in general. However, we all know this was just a variant of Polypterus palmas beuttikoferi which now became the common name for this fish. Also another great example would be Polypterus sp. "Zaire green". They both place the location and the characteristic of the species. Meaning, an unknown Green looking polypterus in Zaire. Polypterus sp. "Zaire green" is actually now, Polypterus retropinnis.
So if the unknown species looks similar to an existing species. We usually place "cf." means confer or compare. Another one is "aff.", "affin." means affinis or affinity. Using this two actually confuses some people on how cf. and aff. works.
-Polypterus sp. cf. "Lapradei"
-Polypterus sp. cf. "Bichir"
-Polypterus sp. cf. "Retropinnis" 'Pool Malebo.
-Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus"
How "cf" works, would be comparing an unknown species to an existing species. This usually being use in the same group of Polypterus. So example would be Polypterus sp. cf. "lapradei". Means, an unknown Bichir complex that have similarities to a Polypterus bichir lapradei. This would be a good example of Polypterus sp. "Koliba", Polypterus sp. "Faranah" or any of the Western type Lapradei unknown variants in particular. Now with Polypterus sp. cf. "Bichir" would probably be a bit confusing. However, this normally applies to an unknown variants of Eastern type Lapradei. Since both Polypterus bichir bichir have similar marking to that many of the Eastern type lapradei. So this would refer to Polypterus sp. "Onigo" and Polypterus sp. "Yobe". Both are just Polypterus bichir Lapradei. Now with Polypterus sp. cf. "Retropinnis"'Pool Malebo". The location point is also added. So it means it's an unknown Polypterus that have similar look to a Polypterus retropinnis or a variant that is found in Pool Malebo. Another example would be Polypterus sp. cf. "Lapradei"'Koliba", which we already stated previously. Meaning it's an unknown bichir complex that looks similar to a Polypterus bichir Lapradai found in Koliba area.
Now we go to on how "aff." works. "Aff." can be a bit tricky to use properly on unknown species. It's usually use to an unknown species that have similar characteristic to a known species but is thought to be a separate species. Example would be Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus". This particular species was thought to be just a Polypterus Congicus in Lake Tanganyika in Zambia. However upon closer looks with more detail, it's thought to be a separate species but the markings are very closely the same. Or these two species are more related to each other. That's why it was labels as sp. aff. "Congicus" as it's the closest known species that can be compare to Polypterus Congicus.
Ever wonder how they gave scientific names to Polypterids or where they got their names from? Here you go, did a little bit of research. Just correct me if I'm wrong. I placed the two genus of the Ropefish as of right now both are being use.
-Erpetoichthys = Herpet(reptile)+ichthys(fish): Meaning, "reptile fish." Refers to the reptilian look or snake like appearance.
-Calamoichthys = Calamus (quill or spadix of reed) Refers to the ganoid scales that resemble the flowering spadix of reeds. Hence the name reedfish.
-Calabaricus = Calabar (named after Calabar River in Nigeria)+icus (usually added to the name of the place where it came from.
-Polypterus = Poly(many)+pteron(wing): Meaning, "many wings." Refers to the multiple hard dorsal spines and finlets of the bichir.
-Bichir = The word bichir came from the word "Abu Shir." An Arabic dialect refers to any fish in the Nile River, Egypt that resembles a spiny armoured fish. Was later mispronounced by French naturalist. They thought the "A" was referred to a single fish. Which is use to refers by English to describe a single object. So they only thought about "Bu Shir". Thus we end up with the word "Bichir" or else we probably have the word "Abichir".
-Lapradei = Named after Émile Pinet-Laprade. Former governor of Senegal from 1822-1869. To honor his death the year this fish was describe.
-Congicus = Congo (named after Congo river basin)+icus (usually added to the name of where it came from)
-Endlicheri = Named after a botanist, Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher. Who discovered this fish in the fish collection of Natural History Museum in Vienna.
-Ansorgii = Named after William John Ansorge. A physician and zoologist who collected in Africa.
-Delhezi = Named after Paul Delhez. His collection and field observation helped prepared Boulenger's book of Congo fishes.
-Polli = Named after Max Fernand Leon Poll. A Belgian ichthyologist. He proposed the name, but did not describe the fish. The name was supposed to be Polypterus palmas congicus but the name congicus was already occupied by Polypterus endlicheri congicus at that time.
-Palmas = Named after Cape Palmas. A locality in Liberia.
-Beuttikoferi = Name after Dr. Johann Büttikofer. A Swiss zoologist, best known as a "Father of Liberian Natural History."
-Senegalus = Named after Senegal river basin.
-Meridionalis = Meridies (south)+aris. Meridional. Meaning, native to southern area or a creature of the southern area.
-Mokelembembe = Named after a cryptic creature called "Mokele-mbembe" in the Congo basin that was thought to be a sauropod. A type of long neck dinosaur. We normally refers to dinosaurs as old, so it was given that name. Mokele-mbembe was thought to be existing today in our modern times. The name was given to this fish as Polypterus mokelembebe, considered as the sister group to all Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish). Or the grand father of ray-finned fish.
-Tuegelsi = Named after Guy Tuegels. Curator of fishes at the Royal Museum of Central Africa, for his “myriad influential contributions to the systematics of African freshwater fishes”
-Retropinnis = Retro(back)+pinnis or pinna(fins). Referring to the dorsal fins of the fish that are set way back of the body.
-Ornatipinnis = Ornatus or Ornate (decorated with complex pattern)+pinnis or pinna(fins). Referring to the well decorated patterns of this fish on all fins.
-Weeksii = Named after Rev. J. H. Weeks. He collected this fish on his mission station at Monsembe upper Congo River, Zaire.
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Ok time to learn the proper way of writing latin/scientific names of Polypterids or any fish in particular. Also the proper way of adding the location it was caught from. As many seems are still confuse and been asking repeated questions on what's the differences of this certain fish to this certain fish. Even though they are just the same fish.
A good example of many people's mistakes that will confuse many are when they wrote down:
-Dabola lap
-Dabola endli
-Sp. dabola.
To many this is just similar species. However, they are actually not. So it's best to write them down properly to prevent confusion.
Dabola lap should be Polypterus bichir lapradei "Dabola" or lap "dabola" for short. Which is a lapradei caught in Dabola. It is not an endlicheri nor sp. dabola. It's a lapradei caught somewhere in dabola. Same thing with Dabola endli, it's should be Polypterus endlicheri "Dabola" or endli "dabola for short. It's an actual endlicheri caught somewhere in Dabola area. Now for the sp. dabola. It's should be Polypterus sp. "dabola" just sp. "dabola". It's not an endlicheri, it's not a lapradei. But an unknown species caught somewhere in Dabola. That's why it was labeled "sp." or "species". Always place the location where it was caught from at the end of the latin name. Regardless you place the full latin name or without the genus name. As long as you place the location it was caught in "quotation marks".
Another example would be koliba lap. Many people been asking me, "What's are the difference between Koliba lap and sp. koliba?". They are just the same fish. If people or seller just write down the proper latin names this will stop many of the confusion. So it's best to write it down as Polypterus sp. "koliba" or if you want it short. Sp. "koliba". Or best yet, Polypterus bichir lapradei "Koliba" or Polypterus sp. cf. "Lapradei". Not just Koliba lap. Always place the location caught at the end. Yes sp. "koliba" is a western type lapradei but it's still place as unknown species.
So normally we label them in Genus name first. Then the latin name that was given to that certain species. Fallowed by the location it was caught from in quotation marks.
Genus: Polypterus
Species: Endlicheri
Location: "Tinkisso"
Polypterus Endlicheri "Tinkisso" Or endli "tinkisso".
If the species is unknown we normally place "sp.", "spec." which means "species". Then place the location it was caught from or the characteristic of the fish.
-Polypterus sp. "Dabola"
-Polypterus sp. "Golddust"
-Polypterus sp. "Zaire Green"
Example would be Polypterus sp. "Dabola". An unknown Polypterus found in Dabola area. Another example would be. Polypterus sp. "goldust". Meaning, it's an unknown Polypterus that have some Gold dust characteristic or gold in general. However, we all know this was just a variant of Polypterus palmas beuttikoferi which now became the common name for this fish. Also another great example would be Polypterus sp. "Zaire green". They both place the location and the characteristic of the species. Meaning, an unknown Green looking polypterus in Zaire. Polypterus sp. "Zaire green" is actually now, Polypterus retropinnis.
So if the unknown species looks similar to an existing species. We usually place "cf." means confer or compare. Another one is "aff.", "affin." means affinis or affinity. Using this two actually confuses some people on how cf. and aff. works.
-Polypterus sp. cf. "Lapradei"
-Polypterus sp. cf. "Bichir"
-Polypterus sp. cf. "Retropinnis" 'Pool Malebo.
-Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus"
How "cf" works, would be comparing an unknown species to an existing species. This usually being use in the same group of Polypterus. So example would be Polypterus sp. cf. "lapradei". Means, an unknown Bichir complex that have similarities to a Polypterus bichir lapradei. This would be a good example of Polypterus sp. "Koliba", Polypterus sp. "Faranah" or any of the Western type Lapradei unknown variants in particular. Now with Polypterus sp. cf. "Bichir" would probably be a bit confusing. However, this normally applies to an unknown variants of Eastern type Lapradei. Since both Polypterus bichir bichir have similar marking to that many of the Eastern type lapradei. So this would refer to Polypterus sp. "Onigo" and Polypterus sp. "Yobe". Both are just Polypterus bichir Lapradei. Now with Polypterus sp. cf. "Retropinnis"'Pool Malebo". The location point is also added. So it means it's an unknown Polypterus that have similar look to a Polypterus retropinnis or a variant that is found in Pool Malebo. Another example would be Polypterus sp. cf. "Lapradei"'Koliba", which we already stated previously. Meaning it's an unknown bichir complex that looks similar to a Polypterus bichir Lapradai found in Koliba area.
Now we go to on how "aff." works. "Aff." can be a bit tricky to use properly on unknown species. It's usually use to an unknown species that have similar characteristic to a known species but is thought to be a separate species. Example would be Polypterus sp. aff. "Congicus". This particular species was thought to be just a Polypterus Congicus in Lake Tanganyika in Zambia. However upon closer looks with more detail, it's thought to be a separate species but the markings are very closely the same. Or these two species are more related to each other. That's why it was labels as sp. aff. "Congicus" as it's the closest known species that can be compare to Polypterus Congicus.
