Polypterus senegalus

Polypterus senegalus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Polypteriformes
Family:	Polypteridae
Genus:	Polypterus
Species:	P. senegalus
Binomial name
Polypterus senegalus Cuvier, 1829
Subspecies
P. s. meridionalis (Poll 1941) P. s. senegalus Cuvier 1829
Synonyms[2][3]
Polypterus arnaudii Duméril 1870 Polypterus meridionalis Poll 1942

Polypterus senegalus, commonly known as the Senegal bichir, gray bichir or Cuvier's bichir, is an African species of ray-finned fish in the bichir family, Polypteridae. It is a typical example of polypterid fishes, as most of its defining physical features are common across the genus, such as its ancient, lungfish- or arowana-like appearance, the ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen, and its armor-like scales. These factors have influenced the species' popularity in captivity, and it is commonly kept by aquarists and other hobbyists.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

P. senegalus is sometimes, confusingly, called the "dinosaur eel" or "dragon fish", among other misnomers; however, the bichir is not an eel, nor is it a reptile or dinosaur.