Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Siluriformes (Catfishes) > Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Peters.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 13°S - 27°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: middle and lower Zambezi south to the Pongolo system (Ref. 7248, 52193). Absent from upper Save-Runde system (Ref. 7248, 52193). Also reported from the Luangwe (upper Congo River basin) (Ref. 58032, 82238). Reports from the Angolan Congo basin (Ref. 11970) refer to Synodontis macropuncatus (Ref. 75786).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 15.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 43.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52193); max. published weight: 820.00 g (Ref. 52193)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 16.

The spines are said to be poisonous (Ref. 4537). Found in pools and slow flowing reaches of perennial and seasonal rivers; prefers riverine habitats to floodplains; shelters in holes or crevices or on the underside of logs, frequently in an upside-down position (Ref. 52193). Active at night, feeds on detritus and plant matter such as seeds as well as small invertebrates like insects and snails, and will scavenge readily (Ref. 52193). Breeds in summer during rainy periods (Ref. 7248, 52193). Oviparous (Ref. 205).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3202)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 02 October 2017

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Venomous (Ref. 4537)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01096 (0.00518 - 0.02319), b=2.99 (2.80 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 2.7 ±0.34 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Synodontis zambezensis Peters, 1852