| Family: |
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae |
| Max. size: |
35 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 80 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Lake Victoria, Lake Kioga, Victoria Nile and Malagarasi drainage (Ref. 78218, 82238). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7. 16-21 mandibular teeth. Maxillary barbels reaching posterior tip of the humeral process, or occasionally beyond. Mandibular barbels with slender branches. Greyish silver, with dark spots of variable size. Caudal fin occasionally spotted (Ref. 34290). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in rivers and lakes and prefers deeper water (0-80 m) (Ref. 34291), although it also occurs in shallow water (Ref. 34290). In Lake Victoria it occurs over hard and soft substrates, but is more common over soft bottoms and in water over 13 m deep; feeds on gastropod molluscs and insects (mainly chironomid larvae), and to a minor extent on fishes and ostracoda; able to extract the flesh of snails without crushing their shells (Ref. 12526). Rarely grows to lengths greater than 35 cm SL (Ref. 34290). Oviparous (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 March 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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