The reedfish, ropefish, or snakefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a species of fish in the family Polypteridae alongside the bichirs. It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to fresh and brackish waters in 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, other agriculture, deforestation, and urban development.
Image: Akwa 19 reedfish
Image: Erpetoichthys calabaricus 01
A yellowish-green ropefish amongst grey Polypterus senegalus
Bichirs and the reedfish comprise Polypteridae, a family of archaic ray-finned fishes and the only family in the order Polypteriformes.
Bichir
Polypterus endlicheri
Polypterus delhezi