Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335); orientalis: The specific name refers to the distribution region, which lies in the east of the African continent.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: known from the Ruvu and probably also the Rufiji drainage in Tanzania (Ref. 78218).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 78218)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 12. Distinguished from other species by the following characters: eye diameter 2.2 times in snout length; humeral process triangular, pointed at its tip; absence of axillary pore below the humeral process; 24-26 teeth on lower jaw, number increasing with size; base coloration whitish with large grey-brown blotches on the flanks, leaving only the belly as well as irregular broad white patches in front of and at the end of the adipose fin free; body covered with black-brown dots of about pupil-size (Ref. 78218).
Collected from a small, seasonal stream and the parent catfishes must migrate upstream from the Ruvu during the rainy season to spawn there (Ref. 78218).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p. (Ref. 78218)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01549 (0.00697 - 0.03443), b=2.90 (2.72 - 3.08), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
