Hingemouth
| Hingemouth | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
| Family: | Phractolaemidae 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 family Phractolaemidae 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. Its mouth can extend up to 30% of the hingemouth's head length. It has highly flexible lips, and its mouth is mainly supported by cartilage and other connective tissues. The swim bladder has two compartments, and can function as a lung, allowing the hingemouth to survive in oxygen-poor environments.