Erpetoichthys calabaricus Smith, 1865

Ropefish

Species recognized by FishBase external link, R Froese & D Pauly (eds) in 
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Showing: scientific names

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Erpetoichthys calabaricus Smith, 1865

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Erpetoichthys calabaricus Smith, 1865
Erpetoichthys calabaricus Smith, 1865

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Table of Contents

General Description

Biology

Source and Additional Information
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FishBase external link
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Recorder
Susan M. Luna
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Citation

In slow flowing rivers and standing waters (Ref. 557). Apparently restricted to reedy habitats (Ref. 42768). It moves snake-wise over the bottom, but it can also side-wind quite rapidly through the water (Ref. 42873). Feeds at night on worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref. 7020). Able to breathe air and thus can tolerate low oxygen concentrations. Larvae have external gills and resemble salamander larvae (Ref. 557). The size of 90 cm TL (Ref. 3188) is not confirmed; largest size in collections is 37 cm (Ref. 78138).
References
  • Gosse, J.-P. 1990 Polypteridae. p. 79-87. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Tome 1. Coll. Faune Trop. n° XXVIII. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren and Éditions de l'ORSTOM, Paris. 384 p. (Ref. 2835)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2835&speccode=2385 external link
"Erpetoichthys calabaricus Smith, 1865". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/211502". Accessed 20 Mar 2010.