Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical
Africa: Bandama basin (Ref. 57223) and Nzo River (Ref. 272) in the Sassandra basin (Ref. 57223), in Côte d'Ivoire.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 28.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123661); max. published weight: 210.00 g (Ref. 123661)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels longer than head, unbranched, without tubercles and lacking a distinct basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with numerous long and simple ramifications, branches of inner mandibular barbels similar, except for the anterior ones which are thick and bifid; mandibular teeth numbering 21-27 (25 in the holotype); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines weaker and more dense on outer than on inner margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines prolonged into a filament; humeral process twice as long as deep, pointed and slightly keeled ventrally; adipose fin moderately developed and distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin; sides covered with numerous small, round spots; a large black spot behind dorsal fin (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: rather pale yellowish; back, sides, adipose fin and bases of all other fins marked with numerous small black spots; a well developed black humeral spot, and another large dark mark behind base of rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 57223).
Maximum TL was recorded at 26.0 cm (Ref. 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Paugy, D. and T.R. Roberts, 2003. Mochokidae. p. 195-268 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p. (Ref. 57223)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00933 (0.00459 - 0.01895), b=2.92 (2.75 - 3.09), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (24 of 100).