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; 14°N - 6°N
Africa: basins of the Gambia, Géba (including its affluent Culufi), Tominé (Corubal), Kogon, Great Scarcies/Kolenté, Jong/Pampana and Sewa in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone (Ref. 57223).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 130826)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; snout over 50% of head length and over 80% of head width; post-ocular length less than 30% of head length; maxillary barbels slightly shorter than head, bearing externally some short and simple ramifications and a broad basal membrane; outer and inner mandibular barbels with numerous tuberculate ramifications; mandibular teeth long, numbering 6-9 (8 in the lectotype); pectoral-fin spines weakly denticulate on inner margin and very slightly crenulated externally; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly and prolonged into a filament; humeral process deep, blunt, granulose and not keeled ventrally; adipose fin long, low and rather close to rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: general appearance rather dark, with ventral areas lighter; outer margins of caudal-fin lobes black-edged (Ref. 57223).
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum total length 323mm (Ref. 57223).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | 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)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.00933 (0.00303 - 0.02871), b=3.05 (2.80 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (24 of 100).
