SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Synodontis pardalis Boulenger, 1908

Image contributors to this species:

Toyin Ojo (1) Boulenger 1911 (Line Drawing) (1) Allan James (4) Dave Schumacher (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

This species has recently been seen in the U.S. and U.K. shops (04/2011) after many years of non-availability. This is due to a large catchment and export from the Ja (Dja) River in southern Cameroon. Take care on identification as they have been sold in the past as this species and they have turned out to be hybrids, see Article. Similar to S. katangae from the upper drainage of the Congo (which the Ja River drains into) but this species has larger spots but they may be the one and the same species. Etymology: The specific name pardalis: Latin for like a leopard, referring to large, leopard-like dark-brown spots on body.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Ja (Dja) River, Congo River basin, Cameroon. Type locality: A waterfall of the Libi River, near the Ja River (Congo System), South Cameroon.

Size:

20.0cm. (8ins)

Temp:

23-26°C (73-79°F)

p.H.

6.2-7.2.

IUCN Red List

The cobalt mining on the Dja River by scraping of the surface causes a decline of the habitat. The AOO is estimated to be less than 500 km² and the species is known from fewer than five locations so this species is classified as Endangered, but needs updating (IUCN 2010).

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.
Moelants, T. 2010. Synodontis pardalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
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 pardalis

Synodontis pardalis
Lecotype 229mm.

Synodontis pardalis
Head view

Synodontis pardalis

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.