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: Vaillant.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 0°S - 2°S
Africa: endemic to Ogowe basin in Gabon (Ref. 81251, 126042).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81251)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: 85-90 movable mandibular teeth, forming a long series; head width 96.6-99.4% HL; postocular length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels without a basal membrane, slightly longer than head length and reaching to base of pectoral spine; dorsal spine prolonged by a short filament, without serration along anterior edge and a few serrations along posterior edge; entire margin of opercle smooth; caudal fin without single dark patch at base of each fin lobe (Ref. 81251).
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum total length reported as 31.4 cm (Ref. 3202, 81251) seems based on Ref. 82238 (holotype size), but is more likely 21.4 cm based on the holotype picture on the MNHN collection website, which agrees to the maximum standard length reported and observed (T. Musschoot, pers. comm.).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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=0.01000 (0.00376 - 0.02663), b=3.07 (2.84 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (11 of 100).
