Microsynodontis
| Microsynodontis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Mochokidae |
| Genus: | Microsynodontis Boulenger, 1903 |
| Type species | |
| Microsynodontis batesii Boulenger, 1903 | |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Microsynodontis is a genus of upside-down catfishes native to Africa.
Microsynodontis species are occasionally imported for the aquarium trade.[1] Very little is known about their biology.[1]
Description
It can be difficult to identify species of Microsynodontis as their coloration can be highly variable within each species, and color patterns may even change as a fish grows; to identify based on coloration, an understanding of the limits of variation is necessary.[1]
Microsynodontis species express sexual dimorphism. Males can be distinguished by the presence of a conical genital papilla immediately posterior to the anus; in females, this papilla is smaller and has a flattened tip. Males also have a much denser aggregation of tubercles on the head. In M. hirsutus these tubercles are longer than in the other species.
Species
There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus: [2]
- Microsynodontis armatus Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis batesii Boulenger, 1903
- Microsynodontis christyi Boulenger, 1920
- Microsynodontis emarginata Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis hirsuta Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis laevigata Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis lamberti Poll & Gosse, 1963
- Microsynodontis nannoculus Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis nasutus Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis notata Ng, 2004
- Microsynodontis polli Lambert, 1958
- Microsynodontis vigilis Ng, 2004
References
- 1 2 3 Ng, Heok Hee (2004). "The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species" (PDF). Zootaxa 531: 1–52.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2013). Species of Microsynodontis in FishBase. April 2013 version.