{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | name = Congo bichir | image = PSM V61 D550 Polypterus congicus with external gills from the congo river.png | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Moelants, T. |date=2010 |title=''Polypterus congicus'' |volume=2010 |article-number=e.T182116A7805072 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T182116A7805072.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Polypterus congicus | authority = Boulenger, 1898 | range_map = Polypterus congicus Map.jpg | synonyms = * ''Polypterus endlicherii congicus'' <small>(Boulenger 1898)</small> * ''Polypterus bichir katangae'' <small>(Poll 1941)</small> * ''Polypterus katangae'' <small>Poll 1941</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|last1=Froese|first1=R.|last2=Pauly|first2=D.|year=2017|title=Polypteridae |url=http://www.fishbase.se/Summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=31|website=FishBase version (02/2017)|access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Van Der Laan |first1=Richard |last2=Eschmeyer |first2=William N. |last3=Fricke |first3=Ronald |title=Family-group names of Recent fishes |journal=Zootaxa |date=11 November 2014 |volume=3882 |issue=1 |pages=1–230 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 |pmid=25543675 |doi-access=free }}</ref> }}
'''''Polypterus congicus''''', the '''Congo bichir''', is a species of bichir with a maximum recorded size of {{convert|970|mm|in}}. The colour also varies from yellowish brown to grey, darker in the top, paler in the ventral area. It has a pattern of around 8 irregular vertical bands along the flanks of the fish, that do not extend completely onto the ventral surface. The lower jaw is prominent, much like ''Polypterus endlicherii''. The male has a wider and thicker anal fin. These fish are commonly sold as pets.
==See also== *List of freshwater aquarium fish species
==References== {{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit--> * {{FishBase id1|2385}}
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Category:Polypteridae Category:Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Category:Fish described in 1898
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