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Hippocampus Bildarchiv (5) Serge Mevellec (1)

Can be confused with the smalleri S. robertsi but this species has larger eyes. Description: Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. caudalis has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin. The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process. The shape and size of the humeral process helps to identify the species. In S. caudalis, the humeral process is narrow and sharply pointed. The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins of Synodontis species are hardened into stiff spines. In S. caudalis, the spine of the dorsal fin is short, about 2/3 the length of the head, smooth in the front and serrated on the back. The remaining portion of the dorsal fin is made up of seven branching rays. The spine of the pectoral fin about as long as the dorsal fin spine, and serrated on both sides. The adipose fin is 4 to 5 times as long as it is deep and the anal fin contains three unbranched and eight to nine branched rays. The tail, or caudal fin, is forked, with both lobes ending in a long filament. All members of the Synodontis genera have a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth. This structure contains several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. In S. caudalis, the toothpad forms a long and moderately broad band. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of Syndontis are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked". The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in S. caudalis, there are 70 to 80 teeth on the mandible. Colouration: The body colour is a uniform brownish. Aquarium Care: Keep in the same conditions as S. brichardi.

Whiptail Synodontis

None

Mochokidae

Africa: Lower Congo River, including the rapids, and the middle Congo River basin from Pool Malebo to the lower parts of the rivers Kasai and Lukenie. Type locality: Boma, Matadi, Léopoldville [restricted to Matadi by lectotype designation].

20.0cm. (8ins)

23-26°C (73-79°F)

6.5-7.2.

Boulenger, George Albert (1909). Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history). London: British Museum. pp. 397–398.
Poll, M., 1971. Révision des Synodontis africains (famille Mochocidae). Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 191:1-497.