Global InformationHingemouth information
| Hingemouth | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
| Family: | Kneriidae |
| Subfamily: | Phractolaeminae Boulenger, 1901 |
| Genus: | Phractolaemus Boulenger, 1901 |
| Species: | P. ansorgii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phractolaemus ansorgii Boulenger, 1901
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The hingemouth (Phractolaemus ansorgii) is a small freshwater fish that is found only in west central Africa, the sole member of the subfamily Phractolaeminae of the family Kneriidae.
The mouth can extend like a small trunk, thus the name, and has just two teeth, both in the lower jaw. The swim bladder has two compartments, and can function as a lung, allowing the hingemouth to survive in oxygen-poor environments.[1]
- ^ Banister, Keith F. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 97. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.