Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.2 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 20. Tropical; 22°C - 25°C (Ref. 2059); 5°N - 4°N
Africa: endemic to the Sanaga River basin in Cameroon (Ref. 81251). Report from the lower Ntem river basin (Ref. 27896) unconfirmed.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81251)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: mandibular barbels with few, divided ramifications, branches short and thickened, not tuberculate; maxillary barbel bordered with distinct, broad basal membrane, at least as broad as barbel; 22-27 movable mandibular teeth; dorsal spine with few serrations distally on anterior edge, but with several serrations along posterior edge and prolonged by a short filament; base of adipose fin 1.4-3.6 times distance between dorsal fin and base of adipose fin; body almost completely spotted, including belly and fins; interorbital distance at most 86.6% of snout length; postocular length at least 60% of snout length; 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 26.2 cm (Ref. 3202).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | 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)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
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=0.01122 (0.00437 - 0.02882), b=2.97 (2.77 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.3 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 (14 of 100).
