Polypterus teugelsi
Pronunciation
Po-lyp-ter-us too-gulls-i
Location
Found in the Cross river drainage in Cameroon
Morphology
Photo
Pronunciation
Po-lyp-ter-us too-gulls-i
Location
Found in the Cross river drainage in Cameroon
Morphology
- Vertebrae: 63-65
- Body elongate, subcylindrical anteriorly with posterior third laterally compressed
- Head dorsoventrally depressed
- Mouth terminal with upper jaw projecting beyond lower jaw, lips fleshy
- Predorsal length 46.7-54.8% of SL
- Number of dorsal finlets: 6-7, not extending anteriorly to the vertical through the posterior margin of the pectoral fin
- Number of dorsal and caudal rays: 15-17
- Anal fin base short, positioned far posteriorly and proximate to caudal fin
- Anus immediately anterior of front of anal fin base
- 63-65 lateral line scales
- 37-40 scales around the body
- 28-33 predorsal scales
- 48-51 prepelvic scales
- Live specimens have an unique coloration comprising a network of black marks on an olive background on the dorsal and dorsolateral surface of the body, an orange belly and black pectoral fins
- In alcohol, dorsal half of body is beige to olive brown with irregular pattern of dark brown marks forming darker network pattern, distinct in juveniles, but blending into background coloration in the largest specimens
- Ventral half of body uniform whitish
- Horizontal dark streak extending from below eye to preopercle, second caudoventrally inclined dark streak from below eye to lower jaw
- Cheek, area around eye, snout, and upper and lower lips freckled with brown spots
- Pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins with irregular dark brown lines on beige background; soft dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins with vertical dark lines
Photo