/mochokidae/synodontis/leopardina/1.jpg "Synodontis leopardina(1) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synodontis leopardina Pellegrin, 1914 |
| Common Name(s) | Leopard Squeaker, Luiperdkol-skreeubaber (Afrikaans, South African) |
| Type Locality | Zambezi River, Barotsés, Zambia. |
| Synonym(s) | Synodontis jallae, Synodontis leopardinus |
| 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. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 196mm (7.7") 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. D1,7,A v, 8-10. Head and predorsal with straight profile, sloped about 30 degrees, dorsal fin tall, the spine equal to head length, caudal deeply forked upper lobe longer. Maxillary barbel smooth or finely papillose, not reaching base of pectoral, basel membrane narrow, dark, mandibular barbel branches short and thick. Markings variable, usually small spots over entire body, no bigger than the eye, often with a light center, sometimes in clusters, underparts clear or spotted. The humeral process is broad, triangular and obtusely pointed. |
| General Remarks | The species prefers larger bodies of still water and rivers with backwaters and inundation zones, for example the Okavango delta and similar habitats. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Cunene, Okavango and Upper Zambezi. African Waters  , Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Okavango (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)African Waters , Cunene (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Have been found with stomachs containing detritus and plant material, as well as fish remains, but above all large quantities of insect larvae, particularly mosquito larvae. |
| Breeding | Unknown |
| Further Information | |
| References | Cat. Fresh-water Fish. Africa.v. 4 - pp320. Skelton, P (2001) A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik, pg255. Seegers, (2008) The Catfishes of Africa pg.433. |
| Registered Keepers | None.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
 -
Search Planet Catfish for more on Synodontis leopardina
 - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Synodontis leopardina on AquaticRepublic.com
 - Look up Synodontis leopardina on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web) |
| Hits | 1258 hits. |
| Last Update | 2011 Nov 03 07:45 (species record created: 2007 Jun 02 17:22) |
Registered users: Bing [Bot], cordsally, ElTofi, Google [Bot], hero782, MSN [Bot]
© 1996 - 2012 PlanetCatfish.com, part of the Aquatic Republic Network group of websites. All Rights Reserved. By accessing this site you agree to our Terms and Conditions of Use.
