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: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Niger basin, including the Benue (Ref. 57223).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 17 - ? cm
Max length : 26.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57223)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; maxillary barbels longer than head, bearing externally short and tuberculate ramifications and a broad membrane extending along their basal part; outer mandibular barbels with simple, thick ramifications, branches of inner mandibular barbels tuberculate, sometimes subdivided; mandibular teeth short, numbering 59-66 (possibly up to 82); pectoral-fin spines very strongly denticulate on inner margin, but nearly smooth on outer margin; dorsal-fin spine denticulate on front margin and prolonged into a filament; humeral process deep, granulose and not keeled ventrally; adipose fin very well developed and contiguous to rayed dorsal fin; body deep; eyes large (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: general background greyish-brown, colour pattern inverted, the ventral areas being dark (Ref. 57223).
Occurs in vegetated areas of the lake. Omnivore, feeds on plankton and detritus (Ref.13868). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum total length 350mm (Ref. 57223).
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
Fisheries: commercial
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): 2.6 ±0.28 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 7.6 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.14).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (49 of 100).
