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); punu: Named after the Punu people living in the Ngounié, the Nyanga (souther Gabon) and the Niari provinces (Republic of Congo), which is approximately the area where the species was collected. Collecting expeditions are always, somehow, the result of human col.
Eponymy: The Punu people, who live in part of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo where this catfish occurs, were notable for their help with collecting and their ‘spontaneous hospitality’. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 2°S - 3°S, 11°E - 12°E
Africa: known from the Nyanga River basin and the Niari (Kouilou) River basin in Republic of Congo, and from the Ngounié River (Ogooué River basin) in Gabon (Ref. 82554).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 82554)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 7; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. A small species of Synodontis; body, at base of pectoral fins broader than high; dorsal profile of snout steep sloping until about vertical through posterior margin of orbit where-upon profile of head more gentle; complete lateral line, curving slightly dorsally above level of humeral process, further posteriorly straight, gently declining towards middle of caudal-fin base; head large (Ref. 82554).
Synodontis punu is distinguished from its Lower Guinea congeners by the following unique combination of characters: posterior border of operculum with a single hypertrophied opercular spine in sexually mature males, and caudal fin with a pair of black patches, one on the upper and one on the lower lobe (vs. both characters absent in all other Lower Guinea species except S. acanthoperca) (Ref. 82554).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Vreven, E. and L. Milondo, 2009. Description of Synodontis punu, new species (Siluriformes: Mockokidae) from the Lower Guinea ichthyofaunal province (Gabon and Republic of Congo), Africa. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 20(2):97-104. (Ref. 82554)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
