Nile catfish
| Synodontis batensoda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Mochokidae |
| Genus: | Synodontis |
| Species: | S. batensoda |
| Binomial name | |
| Synodontis batensoda (Rüppell, 1832) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Synodontes ruppelli Swainson, 1838 | |
The Nile catfish (Synodontis batensoda) is a species of mochokid upside-down catfish. This fish originates from the Nile, Chad, Niger, Senegal, and Gambia river basins.
S. batensoda has 39–42 gill rakers rather than 7–33 as in other Synodontis species, and its dorsal fin and adipose fin are contiguous. The body is short and deep, the eyes are large, and its colouration is grey-black tinged with brown, with a faint network of dark black spots. There is a comb of small spines near the point of the operculum.[1] The maxillary barbels have membranes, though these are not as wide as in Hemisynodontis.[2] Like other Synodontis species, this fish almost always swims upside down.[2] This fish may grow up to 50 centimetres (20 in) TL and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb).[3]
This omnivorous fish feeds on plankton, algae, detritus, surface insects, chironomid larvae, benthic crustaceans, and molluscs. It is oviparous and venomous.[3]
In the aquarium hobby, this fish may be known as the giant upside-down catfish. It is peaceful and hardy fish, but may be bullied by more aggressive Synodontis species.[2]
References
- ↑ Friel, John P.; Vigliotta, Thomas R. (2006). "Synodontis acanthoperca, a new species from the Ogôoué River system, Gabon with comments on spiny ornamentation and sexual dimorphism in mochokid catfishes (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa 1125: 45–56.
- 1 2 3 PlanetCatfish (2006): Brachysynodontis batensoda. Version of June 17, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
- 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). "Synodontis batensoda" in FishBase. December 2011 version.
External links
Data related to Synodontis batensoda at Wikispecies