Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total):
6; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 37 - 38. Colouration:
There are small dark brown spots and/or dots on a
light brown base on the head, becoming larger and
horizontally directed further back and attaining somewhat
more than eye size on the posterior body, where there
are irregularly shaped. The fins in turn exhibit smaller
dark brown spots ((Seegers L. 2008). Habitat:
Favours fast-flowing rocky habitats and is the only
Synodontis species found in rapids, where
it lives in crevices (Tweddle et al. 2004). Etymology:
macrostoma - From the Greek makros, meaning
long and stoma, meaning mouth; in reference to the
size of the mouth, hence the common name the "Largemouth
squeaker".
Common
Name:
Largemouth squeaker
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Mochokidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Upper Zambezi, Okavango, Cunene and Kafue systems.
Type locality: Upper Zambezi River
at Katima Mulilo, Caprivi, Namibia.
Size:
9.0cm. (3½ins)
Temp:
22-25°C (71-77°F)
p.H.
6.5-7.2.
Reference:
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,
( 06/2023 ).
Marshall, B.E. & Tweddle, D. 2007. Synodontis
macrostoma. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2007. Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes
of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance.
Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p. Skelton, P.H. and P.N. White, 1990.
Two new species of Synodontis (Pisces: Siluroidei:
Mochokidae) from southern Africa. Ichthyol. Explor.
Freshwat. 1(3):277-225.
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.