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Synodontis tessmanni Pappenheim, 1911

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Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: Body uniformly coloured; caudal fin not spotted; Interorbital distance at most 86.6% of snout length; Entire margin of opercle smooth, caudal fin without single dark patch at base of each fin lobe maxillary barbels with a distinct basal membrane; 21 to 24 movable mandibular teeth; Postocular length at least 60% of snout length, maxillary barbel at least 0.8 times HL; dorsal spine long prolonged by a short filament, without serrations along anterior edge and only a few (2-4) distally on posterior edge. Habitat: Endemic to the Ntem River in the Cameroon but also found in the Ogooué in Gabon. Aquarium Care: As for the Synodontis types. Etymology: The specific name tessmanni: In honour of German explorer, ethnographer and plant collector Günter Tessmann (1884–1969), who collected holotype. Remarks: This species is quite rare and has so far not been seen in the hobby. Fairly easy to identify as the markings and colouration are not commonplace amongst this genus.

Common Name:

Tessmann's Squeaker

Synonyms:

Synodontis hollyi ntemensis

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Ntem River, Cameroon. Type locality: Akonangi, im Kje [Ntem basin].

Size:

18.0cm. (7ins)

Temp:

23-26°C (73-79°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.0.

IUCN Red List

The species is widespread within the Central Africa assessment region and is assessed as Least Concern, 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.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2014. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (11/2014).
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 tessmanni. 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 tessmanni
Ogooué drainage, Gabon

Synodontis tessmanni
Ventral view-Ogooué drainage, Gabon

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