/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/1.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(1) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/2.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(2) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/3.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(3) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/4.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(4) - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/5.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(5) Lufubu River, Zambia - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/6.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(6) Lufubu River, Zambia - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/7.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(7) Habitat: Lufubu River entering into Lake Tanganyika - Click to enlarge")
/mochokidae/synodontis/melanosticta/8.jpg "Synodontis melanosticta(8) Habitat: Lufubu River entering into Lake Tanganyika - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synodontis melanosticta Boulenger, 1906 |
| Common Name(s) | None |
| Type Locality | Lofu, Lake Tanganyika. |
| Synonym(s) | Synodontis melanostictus |
| Pronunciation | sin oh don tiss |
| Etymology | Synodontis: From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth. This specific epithet refers to its black (melas=black) spots (stictus,-a=spots). |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 320mm (12.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | All species in the genus Synodontis have a hardened head cap that has attached a process (humeral process) which is situated behind the gill opening and pointed towards the posterior. The dorsal fin and pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated. Caudal fin is always forked. There is one pair of maxillary barbels, sometimes having membranes and occasionally branched. The two pairs of mandibular barbels are often branched and can have nodes attached. The cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw are short. S-shaped and movable in the lower jaw. These fish produce audible sounds when disturbed rubbing the base of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle. Axillary pore absent, body with small spots, All rayed fins with small, black spots, similar to those found on body,black triangles absent, fin spines brown, 9-10 pectoral-fin rays. Humeral process triangular, wide at base tapering to sharp point. |
| General Remarks | The only species of Synodontis found in the lake not endemic to the Lake Tanganyikan Basin. S.melanosticta lacks the rayed fin colouration common to almost all its Tanganyikan congeners. Inhabits littoral to benthic zones over shell,sand and mud bottoms to a maximum depth of 150 m. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | East central Africa: Lake Tanganyika and its tributaries. African Waters  , Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Breeding | Unreported. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Transactions of the Zoological Society of London v. 17 (pt 6, no. 1) |
| Registered Keepers | None.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 3604 hits. |
| Last Update | 2011 Oct 05 12:09 (species record created: 2008 Mar 08 03:38) |
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