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Hippocampus Bildarchiv (3) Danny Blundell (1)

Relatively large growing species which will require a large tank. Similar to S. filamentosus but this species lacks the stripe markings in the caudal fin. Description: The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins of Synodontis species are hardened into stiff spines. In S. courteti, the spine of the dorsal fin is about half the length of the head, smooth in the front. The remaining portion of the dorsal fin is made up of seven branching rays. The spine of the pectoral fin is a little stronger and longer than the dorsal spine, and serrated on both sides and the adipose fin is three times as long as it is deep. The anal fin contains four unbranched and nine branched rays and the tail, or caudal fin, is moderately forked. All members of the genera Synodontis 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. courteti, the toothpad forms a short and broad band. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of Synodontis 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. courteti, there are 13 to 17 teeth on the mandible. The shape and size of the humeral process helps to identify the species. In S. courteti, the humeral process is much longer than it is broad, without a ridge on the bottom edge, and sharply pointed.

None

Synodontis thomasi

Mochokidae

Africa: Chad and Niger basins, including the Bénoué. Type Locality: Fort-Archambault (Chari) [Soudan]

35.0cm. (14ins)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

6.5-8.0.

Boulenger, George Albert (1909). Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history). London: British Museum. pp. 441–442.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (09/2009).