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Synodontis ornatissimus Gosse, 1982

 

Image contributors to this species:

Hippocampus Bildarchiv (2) Diodio Sorue Achille (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Etymology = Genus

Other Sources:

Search  FishBase Wikipedia  Catalog of Fishes  Global Biodiversity Information Facility  FishNet2  iNaturalist

Relevant Information:

This species was described by Boulenger in 1920 as S. ornatus (Pappenheim & Boulenger, 1914) but it turned out that this species was already described and was probably a synomyn of S. nigrita so Gosse renamed this species as S. ornatissimus in 1982. Recognised by the large eye (similar to S. pleurops) and short barbels. Description: Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. ornatissimus has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin. The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process. The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw and the adipose fin is large and the tail, or caudal fin, is forked. The Synodontis genera 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. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked". Diet: As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores, consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Synodontis ornatus, Synodontis nummifer, Synodontis ornatissima

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: North Congo basin (Ubangi River and affluents). Type locality: Poko, Congo Belge.

Size:

16.5cm. (6½ins)

Temp:

23-26°C (73-79°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

Reference:

Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
Boulenger, George Albert (1909). Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history). London: British Museum. p. 391.
Cuvier, Georges (1934). The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization, Volume 10. Translated by Griffith, Edward. London: Whittaker and Co. p. 406.
Wright, J.J. & L.M. Page (2006). "Taxonomic Revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)". Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 46 (4): 99–154.



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

Click for full imageSynodontis ornatissimus
Click for full imageSynodontis ornatissimus
Dorsal View
Click for full imageSynodontis ornatissimus
Haut-Uele, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

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