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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. Tropical; 15°N - 5°N
Africa: Volta basin (Ref. 57223).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 8992)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels very well developed, about twice as long as head, reaching pelvic fins, unbranched and without tubercles or distinct basal membrane; mandibular barbels with long, simple and slender ramifications: mandibular teeth poorly developed, numbering 24-28 (28 in the holotype); denticulations of pectoral fin spines distinctly weaker on outer than on inner margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; humeral process rather narrow, pointed and granulate, very slightly keeled ventrally; adipose fin moderately developed, very close/subcontiguous to rayed dorsal fin, sometimes even overlapping with it; body not spotted (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: uniformly greyish or brownish; fins grey (Ref. 57223).
Maximum TL was recorded at 13.6 cm (Ref. 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
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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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 (0.00850 - 0.02823), b=2.93 (2.77 - 3.09), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & 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).
