SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Synodontis robbianus Smith, 1875

Image contributors to this species:

Allan James (1) Frants Lehmann (1 Stamp) Hippocampus Bildarchiv (2) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Can be easily mixed up with Synodontis nigrita, but the main difference is the body colour with S. nigrita having a grey/black colouration and robbianus being more of a brown colour. There is also a difference in the shape of the humeral process (the part of the head shield that projects back just above the pectoral fins), S. robbiannus is that bit longer and ends in a point while S. nigrita also ends in a point but is shorter and sweeps up in a curve on the bottom edge. Aquarium Care: One of the more peaceful Synodontis species. Good community catfish in a larger setup but as with all Syno's will need their own space, meaning their own bit of bogwood, PVC pipe or rockwork to reduce the territorial behaviour of this genus. Diet: Will take most prepared aquarium foods such as frozen bloodworm, whiteworm, shrimp, prawns, tablet food, flake food and pellets. A wide varied diet will provide a healthy specimen for many years. Etymology: The specific name robbianus: –anus (L.), belonging to: Rev. Alexander Robb (1824–1901), Scottish Presbyterian missionary, who provided specimens from the “Old Calavar district of tropical Africa,” including holotype of this one.

Common Name:

Brown-spotted Syno

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Lower Niger and Cross River (Old Calabar) in Nigeria. Type locality: Ikorofiong, Old Calabar River.

Size:

13.0cm. (5ins)

Temp:

22-25°C (71-77°F)

p.H.

6.2-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Synodontis robbianus is only known certainly from the type locality at Ikot Okpora in the Cross river system, Nigeria. A second occurrence in the Bamingui River in Central Africa Republic needs further confirmation. Without further information on its distribution or threats, a full assessment cannot be made. It is assessed as Data Deficient (DD), (IUCN 2020).

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2025 ).
Lalèyè, P. & Olaosebikan, B.D. 2020. Synodontis robbianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020.
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.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 33. March 1999.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Mochokidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Synodontis robbianus

Synodontis robbianus
Stamp

Synodontis robbianus
Juvenile

Synodontis robbianus
Variant

Synodontis robbianus

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.