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Hippocampus Bildarchiv (4) Allan James (3) Karsten Mody (3)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; eye not more than 20% of head length, and 26% of head width; in adults, post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels usually longer than head (except in young individuals), unbranched, without tubercles but with a broad, black basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with rather long, tuberculate ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels shorter and strongly globose; mandibular teeth long, numbering 27-38 (33 in the holotype); dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; denticulations of pectoral-fin spines finer on outer than on inner margin; humeral process not keeled ventrally, triangular, slender and pointed in young specimens, and deep, more strongly arched, and more blunt posteriorly in adults; dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines prolonged into a black filament; adipose fin not very well developed; head more flattened in young than in adults; outer margins of caudal-fin lobes black-edged; body covered with fine specks. Colouration: Body rather pale and covered with fine black specks and with larger spots in young individuals; rayed fins light and often spotless, but adipose fin always spotted; outer margins of caudal-fin lobes black-edged; broad black spot above humeral process. Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal. The scientific community currently recognises this fish as Synodontis bastiani. In aquarist circles we did use to recognise this fish from its junior synonym name of Synodontis euberneensis. Habitat: The Ivory Synodontis comes to us from Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Here it is found in riverine habitats. Etymology: In honour of M. (probably Monsieur) Bastian (no other information available), who collected type. Remarks: The last three thumbnail images (which are probably the real S. bastiani) were photographed in 2004 and 2005 by the image contributor in the Comoé river at the Comoé National Park Côte d'Ivoire in the north east of the country near the borders of Burkina Faso.

Ivory Synodontis

Synodontis eburneensis, Synodontis dageti

Mochokidae

Africa: Sassandra, Bandama and Bia basins (Côte d'Ivoire), also from the Comoe and Agnébi Rivers. Type locality: Côte d’Ivoire: Bouaflé.

20.0cm. (8ins)

22-26°C (71-79°F)

6.5-7.2.

Dankwa, H., Awaïss, A. & Lalèyè, P. 2020. Synodontis bastiani. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2020. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2020 ).
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. 113. Nov.2005.