Cat-eLog Right Mochokidae Right Mochokinae Right Synodontis  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Synodontis pardalis  Boulenger, 1908
Common Names Jaguar Squeaker
Jaguarskægmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Waterfall of Libi River near Ja River (Congo System) into which it flows, southern Cameroon.
Pronunciation sin oh don tiss
Etymology According to Cuvier, Synodontis is an "ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile". It is apparently not derived, as often reported, from syn-, together and odous, tooth, presumed etymology of the lizardfish genus Synodus and in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth of both genera. This specific epithet literally means leopard (pardalis=leopard), a reference to the spotted feline.
Down Species Information
Size 235mm or 9.3" 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.
Sexing First lay the fish in your hand with its head toward your palm and the tail toward your fingers. Hold the dorsal spine between your middle and ring finger so the fish is belly up and you won't get punctured by the sharp fin spines (which hurts - be careful). The genital pore is in a small furrow of tissue (in healthy fish) and will be obstructed by the pelvic fins. Pull down on the tail gently to arch the fishes spine and the pelvic fins will stand and the furrow open to display the genital pore and the anus of the fish. The male has a somewhat ridged genital papillae on which the spermatoduct is on the back side, facing the tail fin. A gravid female will also show an extended papillae but the oviduct is on the ventral side of the papillae. It may also show a little redness if really gravid. A thin or emaciated female will have just two pink pores, the oviduct and the anus.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Ja River, Cameroon (Congo basin).
African Waters, Congo, Dja (click on these areas to find other species found there)

Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category Endangered, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009.
Down Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 8) v. 2 (no. 7), pp 30.
Registered Keepers There are 23 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There are 3 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
Search for S. pardalis
Look up AquaticRepublic.com Look up S. pardalis on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up on Fishbase Look up S. pardalis on Fishbase
Look up on Encyclopedia of Life Look up S. pardalis on Encyclopedia of Life
Look up on Global Biodiversity Information Facility Look up S. pardalis on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Synodontis pardalis QR code LFS label creator
Last Update 2023 Jan 12 05:44 (species record created: 2006 Jun 07 00:00)