Synodontis macrophthalmus Poll, 1971

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  14.6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: only known from the type locality in the Volta basin in Ghana (Ref. 57223).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 13-13. Diagnosis: eyes remarkably large, 26.3% of head length, only comparable with some Synodontis species from the Congo River basin (Ref. 82238). Gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at most 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels broadly fringed, shorter than head, unbranched and not tuberculate, but with a distinct basal membrane; mandibular barbels with simple and more or less thick ramifications, especially those of the inner pair; width of premaxillary tooth plate comprised at most 1.8 times in eye diameter; mandibular teeth numbering 19; pectoral-fin spines of holotype broken off, but in the basal region, denticulations are stronger on inner than on outer margin; dorsal-fin spine also mutilated, but remaining basal stump smooth anteriorly; humeral process granulate, concave on upper margin, not keeled ventrally; adipose fin rather long, low and distinctly separated from the rayed dorsal fin; outer margin of caudal fin black-edged (Ref. 57223). Coloration: only known specimen (holotype) light, outer caudal-fin lobes are dark-edged (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum total length 202mm (Ref. 57223).
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 30 November 2019 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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