Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335); vanderwaali: Named after the collector of the holotype, Ben van der Waal, in recognition of his donations of fish collections from northern Namibina rivers to the J.L.B. Smith Institute and the Albany Museum (Ref. 26674).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: (upper) Zambezi, Okavango and Cunene River (Ref. 26674, 120641).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26674)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Vertebrae: 38 - 39. Diagnosed by having numerous mandibular teeth (25-41); a large number of tertiary premaxillary teeth in several rows across the width of the tooth pad; and a relatively long barbels, the maxillaries without any papillae on the leading edge. Pigment pattern with variable spots which are often drawn out to form a finely vermiculated network (Ref. 26674)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Skelton, P.H. and P.N. White, 1990. Two new species of Synodontis (Pisces: Siluroidei: Mochokidae) from southern Africa. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 1(3):277-225. (Ref. 26674)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
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=0.01514 (0.00729 - 0.03144), b=2.87 (2.70 - 3.04), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-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 (10 of 100).