Bichirs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of freshwater fish belonging to the family Polypteridae, known for their elongated bodies and primitive characteristics
2. These fish are often characterized by their lobed pectoral fins and ability to breathe air, residing in African rivers and lakes
3. Bichirs are notable for their unique bony structures and are sometimes kept in aquariums due to their distinct appearance and adaptability

Etymology: "Bichirs" is the plural of "bichir", a fish name that began as the species epithet of a single African fish. The name was taken over from "Polypterus bichir", the scientific name given to the fish when it was collected and described in 1802 or 1803, and the epithet "bichir" is itself borrowed from Arabic "bašīr", a term for the fish in the region where it lives. The common name was thus formed by lifting a specific label out of a Latinized scientific name and making it stand alone for the whole group.

Synonyms: polypterid, fish, ray-finned fish