Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Konkouré basin, Guinea (Ref. 57223).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 17.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57223)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels longer than head but not reaching to pelvic fins, unbranched and without tubercles or distinctly visible basilar membrane; outer mandibular barbels with thin, rather long ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels short, thick and globose; mandibular teeth numbering 22-26 (25 in the holotype); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines weak, but stronger on outer than on inner margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; dorsal- as well as pectoral-fin spines distinctly curved distally; humeral process scarcely keeled ventrally; adipose fin rather well developed, low, distinctly separated from the rayed dorsal; maxillary barbels lemon-yellow; outer margins of caudal-fin lobes black (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: back black, belly lighter, bronze-coloured; maxillary barbels citric-yellow in fresh specimens (white after preservation in formalin); all fins blackish, except the caudal which is centrally yellow and has black-edged outer margins (Ref. 57223).
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum TL recorded was 23.8 cm (Ref. 57223).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
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. (Ref. 57223)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00933 (0.00303 - 0.02871), b=3.05 (2.80 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100).
