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Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (3)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; interorbital space less than 50% of head width, 58.5-86.6% of snout length; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length. Entire margin of opercle smooth. Maxillary barbels longer than head, unbranched, without tubercles and bordered by a distinct, black basal membrane, at least as broad as barbel. Outer mandibular barbels with rather long, numerous, simple and thin ramifications, branches of inner mandibular barbels long, subdivided/dichotomous and moderately thin. Mandibular teeth rather long, movable, numbering 21-46 (30 in the lectotype). Denticulations of pectoral-fin spines weaker on outer than on inner margin, with twice as many serrations along anterior edge as posterior. Dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly, prolonged into short filament, as are almost all of the branched dorsal-fin rays. Humeral process twice as long as deep, pointed and granulose, not keeled ventrally. Adipose fin little developed and low, distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin , base of adipose fin 1.5-3.4 times distance between dorsal fin and base of adipose fin. Colouration: Body covered with spots of about 1 mm in diameter; caudal fin spotted, but without single dark patch at base of each fin lobe. Habitat: In the wild, the species has been found in the inland Niger River basin, although the entire range is not currently known. Reproduction: Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding. Diet: As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores, consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes.

Coas synodontis

Synodontis loppei

Mochokidae

West Africa: Coastal rivers from Ghana to Gabon; basins of the Comoë, Pra, Volta, Momo, Cross, Wouri, Sanaga Nyong, Kribi and Lobé Rivers. Type Locality: Gaboon and Opobo River, Old Calabar [restricted to Opobo River by lectotype designation].

26.0cm. (10¼ins)

24-28°C (75-83°F)

6.0-7.5.

Fermon, Y., J. Friel, H.H. Ng and D. De Weirdt, 2007. Mochokidae. p. 698-752. In M.L.J. Stiassny, G.G. Teugels and C.D. Hopkins (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa. Volume I. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales 42. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, and Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium. 800 pp.
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. 2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2023 )
Paugy, D. and T.R. Roberts, 2003. Mochokidae. p. 195-268 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p.