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Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr William John Ansorge (1850–1913) was an English explorer and collector who was active in Africa in the second half of the 19th century. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 13°N - 7°N
Africa: basins of the Géba, Corubal, Kogon, Koumba, Kolenté/Great Scarcies, Rokel and Pampana/Jong in Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone (Ref. 57223). Also reported from the Taja basin (Sierra Leone)(Ref. 3202) and the Konkouré (Guinea) and Sewa (Sierra Leone) rivers (Ref. 13331).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57223)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels unbranched, longer than head, without tubercles and bordered by a black basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with short and simple ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels subdivided/dichotomous but not tuberculate; mandibular teeth numbering 49-82 (64 in the lectotype); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines stronger on inner than on outer margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; only first branched dorsal-fin ray prolonged into a filament; humeral process triangular and granulose, deep, not keeled ventrally; adipose fin normally developed, truncate posteriorly and distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin; eyes large (Ref. 57223).
Coloration: body entirely brownish (including ventral areas); numerous small black spots, particularly on head, but sometimes also on sides and fins (Ref. 57223).
Maximum TL was recorded at 27.6 cm (Ref. 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
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. (Ref. 57223)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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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=0.01000 (0.00376 - 0.02663), b=3.07 (2.84 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.5 ±0.31 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (17 of 100).
