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: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: central Niger Basin (Ref. 57223). Reports from the Cross basin (Ref. 52861, 85170) need confirmation.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 36.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57223)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: (the description that follows fits the only whole specimen identified as this species, the type specimen being reduced to a skeleton) gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; maxillary barbels not fringed, longer than head, without branches or tubercles, but with a distinct, short, basal membrane; mandibular barbels with thick, subdivided ramifications, those of the inner pair even tuberculate; mandibular teeth moderately developed, numbering 55; denticulation on pectoral-fin spines weaker on outer than on inner margins; dorsal-fin spine anteriorly smooth; 1st ray of dorsal and anal fins, as well as both caudal-fin lobes, prolonged into filaments; humeral process pointed, granulose and with 3 backwards pointing spines on ventral margin (young individuals have only the posterior spine slightly developed); adipose fin normally developed and rather distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: body of the alcohol-preserved specimen uniformly light brown (Ref. 57223).
Maximum total length was recorded at 43.0cm (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
Human uses
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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=0.01175 (0.00468 - 0.02950), b=2.97 (2.78 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 439 - 1,889).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100).
