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Synodontis macrops Greenwood, 1963

Image contributors to this species:

Birger Kamprath (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: This species has very large eyes (macrops-meaning large). It has a short snout and the humeral process is triangular and pointed. Similar looking to S. kharthoumensis from the junction of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum and also S. schall from the Nile system. Aquarium Care: Reported to be one of the aggresive forms of Synodontis along with S. schall and S. acanthomias and would need to be housed with same sized fish or larger. Diet: Will take most prepared aquarium foods such as frozen bloodworm, whiteworm, shrimp, prawns, tablet food and pellets. A wide and varied diet, along with good water paramaters, is the key to keeping Synodontis in good health and a long life. Etymology: The specific name macrops: makrós, long or large; stígma, mark or spot, referring to large round or oval blackish spots on back and sides.

Common Name:

Large-eyed synodontis, Apple syno

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Aswa River basin; Nile River system, Uganda. Type locality: Tributary stream of the Aswa River, Teso district, Uganda.

Size:

17.0cm. (6¾ins)

Temp:

22-26°C (71-80°F)

p.H.

6.5-8.0.

IUCN Red List

The species is possibly restricted, but there not much that known about its range beyond the type locality with known records being old. The type locality, a single tributary of the Aswa River in Uganda's Teso sub-region, is under pressure from deforestation and agriculture (rice farming), which may effect habitat and the species. However, the severity of this threat on the entire population cannot be accurately ascertained in this assessment. This species is therefore assessed as Data Deficient (IUCN 2022).

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2.
Natugonza, V. & Musinguzi, L. 2022. Synodontis macrops. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Synodontis macrops

Synodontis macrops
Head view

Synodontis macrops
Eye

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