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Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Gustav Adolf Fischer (1848–1886) was a German physician, naturalist and explorer of East and Central Africa. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Hilgendorf.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 25; depth range 0 - 70 m (Ref. 34291), usually 0 - 30 m (Ref. 34291). Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 2060); 3°N - 5°S
Africa: Lakes Victoria, Nabugabo and Kyoga, affluent rivers of Lake Victoria, Victoria Nile (Ref. 4903). Also found in the Lake Rukwa drainage (Ref. 27292), the Malagarazi River (Ref. 54847, 98755) and the Middle Akagera system (Ref. 46152, 54979). Specimens from Kingani River (=Ruvu River) are misidentifications of S. orientalis (Ref. 78218).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 9.6, range 10 - 12 cm
Max length : 17.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34290)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7. 32-54 mandibular teeth. Maxillary barbels reaching almost to the origin of the pelvic fin in some specimens and to the tip of the humeral process in others. Outer mandibular barbels with slender branches, inner pair with shorter, but slender branches. Marbled yellowish-brown (marbling is extremely variable, some individuals uniformly brown) (Ref. 34290).
Lives in streams and rivers and in lakes, where it prefers shore regions (Ref. 78218). More common in rivers than in lakes (Ref. 12526). Common in marginal vegetation of Kagera River (Ref. 4903). Replaces S. victoriae in shallow waters of Lake Victoria (Ref. 4903), prefers areas less than 20 m deep (Ref. 34290). Feeds on insects (Povilla and chironomid larvae) and molluscs (Ref. 12526). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Rarely grows to lengths greater than 15 cm SL (Ref. 34290).
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
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)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
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=0.01549 (0.00697 - 0.03443), b=2.90 (2.72 - 3.08), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.45 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 1.7 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 200).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (22 of 100).
![Image of Synodontis afrofischeri (Fischer\](/images/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Syafr_u0.jpg "Image of Synodontis afrofischeri (Fischer\")
