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Synodontis vanderwaali Skelton & White, 1990

Image contributors to this species:

Erlend D Bertelsen (2) Joe Cutler (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Vertebrae: 38 - 39. Diagnosed by having numerous mandibular teeth (25-41); a large number of tertiary premaxillary teeth in several rows across the width of the tooth pad; and a relatively long barbels, the maxillaries without any papillae on the leading edge. Colouration: Pigment pattern with variable spots which are often drawn out to form a finely vermiculated network. Aquarium Care: There is not much known about this species as imports are are very rare. Etymology: Named after the collector of the holotype, Ben van der Waal, in recognition of his donations of fish collections from northern Namibina rivers to the J.L.B. Smith Institute and the Albany Museum. Remarks: The Synodontis species of the Upper Zambezi/Okavango systems are widespread and not under any immediate threat. Taxonomy must be clarified but assessment category will not change (IUCN 2007).

Common Name:

Finetooth squeaker

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Cunene, Okavango and upper Zambezi basins. Type locality: Okavango River, Namibia.

Size:

16.0cm. (6¼ins)

Temp:

23-28°C (73-83°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

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. 2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 08/2023 ).
Marshall, B.E. & Tweddle, D. 2007. Synodontis vanderwaali. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007.
Skelton, P.H. and P.N. White, 1990. Two new species of Synodontis (Pisces: Siluroidei: Mochokidae) from southern Africa. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 1(3):277-225.

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

Synodontis vanderwaali

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