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Hippocampus Bildarchiv (2) Diodio Sorue Achille (1) Tom Vigliotta (1)

This species was described by Boulenger in 1920 as S. ornatus (Pappenheim & Boulenger, 1914) but it turned out that this species was already described and was probably a synomyn of S. nigrita so Gosse renamed this species as S. ornatissimus in 1982. Recognised by the large eye (similar to S. pleurops) and short barbels. Description: Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. ornatissimus has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin. The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process. The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw and the adipose fin is large and the tail, or caudal fin, is forked. The Synodontis genera have a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth. This structure contains several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked". Diet: As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores, consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes. Etymology: The specific name of ornatissimus means very ornate or decorated, referring to its “striking” colouration (translation), with many black spots on body and dorsal fin and black bands on tail [replacement name for S. ornatus Boulenger 1920, preoccupied by S. ornatus Pappenheim 1914].

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Synodontis ornatus, Synodontis nummifer, Synodontis ornatissima

Mochokidae

Africa: North Congo basin (Ubangi River and affluents). Type locality: Poko, Congo Belge.

16.5cm. (6½ins)

23-26°C (73-79°F)

6.5-7.2.

Boulenger, George Albert (1909). Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history). London: British Museum. p. 391.
Cuvier, Georges (1934). The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization, Volume 10. Translated by Griffith, Edward. London: Whittaker and Co. p. 406.
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.
Wright, J.J. & L.M. Page (2006). "Taxonomic Revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)". Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 46 (4): 99–154.