Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis:
gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin
insertions; interorbital space less than 50% of head
width, 58.5-86.6% of snout length; post-orbital length
at least 60% of snout length. Entire margin of opercle
smooth. Maxillary barbels longer than head, unbranched,
without tubercles and bordered by a distinct, black
basal membrane, at least as broad as barbel. Outer
mandibular barbels with rather long, numerous, simple
and thin ramifications, branches of inner mandibular
barbels long, subdivided/dichotomous and moderately
thin. Mandibular teeth rather long, movable, numbering
21-46 (30 in the lectotype). Denticulations of pectoral-fin
spines weaker on outer than on inner margin, with
twice as many serrations along anterior edge as posterior.
Dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly, prolonged into
short filament, as are almost all of the branched
dorsal-fin rays. Humeral process twice as long as
deep, pointed and granulose, not keeled ventrally.
Adipose fin little developed and low, distinctly separated
from rayed dorsal fin , base of adipose fin 1.5-3.4
times distance between dorsal fin and base of adipose
fin. Colouration: Body covered with
spots of about 1 mm in diameter; caudal fin spotted,
but without single dark patch at base of each fin
lobe. Habitat: In the wild, the species
has been found in the inland Niger River basin, although
the entire range is not currently known. Reproduction:
Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding. Diet:
As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores,
consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves,
sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes.
Common
Name:
Coas synodontis
Synonyms:
Synodontis loppei
Family:
Mochokidae
Distribution:
West Africa:
Coastal rivers from Ghana to Gabon; basins of the
Comoë, Pra, Volta, Momo, Cross, Wouri, Sanaga
Nyong, Kribi and Lobé Rivers. Type
Locality: Gaboon and Opobo River, Old Calabar
[restricted to Opobo River by lectotype designation].
Size:
26.0cm. (10¼ins)
Temp:
24-28°C (75-83°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Fermon, Y., J. Friel, H.H. Ng and D. De Weirdt,
2007. Mochokidae. p. 698-752. In M.L.J. Stiassny,
G.G. Teugels and C.D. Hopkins (eds.) The fresh and
brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central
Africa. Volume I. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales
42. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement,
Paris, France, Muséum National d’Histoire
Naturelle, Paris, France, and Musée Royal de
l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium. 800 pp.
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, ( 02/2023 ) 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.
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