Eccles, D.H. Field
guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania (2)
ScotCat
Sources:
Other
Sources:
Relevant
Information:
Description:
Large teeth, 19 to 33 on lower jaw. Humeral process
narrowly pointed, upper edge concave. Dorsal fin rays
spotted. This species is closely related to S.
victoriae with
both probably deriving from a common ancestor, with
S. ruandae evolving seperately as a result
of its isolation in the upper Kagera drainage (Seegers
2008). Not often seen if at all in imports. Habitat:
Synodontis ruandae is endemic to the Akagera
River system in Rwanda and Burundi. It occurs at five
locations in the Middle and Upper Akagera and has
an ongoing threat from regression of swamps and wetlands
due to agricultural activities, sedimentation due
to erosion on watershed and eutrophication contribute
to continuing declines in habitat quality. Fishing
pressure is also a potential threat. Diet:
Main component of diet is insect larvae, followed
by molluscs. Remarks:
In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species it is classed
as vunerable and listed as VU D2. It is also close
to meeting the area requirements under Criterion B
1, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 21,500 km²
(IUCN 2015).
Common
Name:
Rwanda ruandae
Synonyms:
Hemisynodontis nigrita,
Synodontis ornatus, S. fascipinna
Family:
Mochokidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Known from the Akagera River system in Rwanda and
Burundi. Type Locality: Kagera at
Rusumu, Rwanda.
Size:
15.0cm. (6ins)
Temp:
21-26°C (69-79°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Eccles, D.H.
1992 FAO species identification sheets for fishery
purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of
Tanzania. Prepared and published with the support
of the United Nations Development Programme (project
URT/87/016). FAO, Rome. 145 p. FishBase team RMCA & Geelhand,
D. 2016. Synodontis ruandae . The IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species 2016. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 08/2019 ).
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. Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes
of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance.
Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.