Synodontis

[The.Dark.One, posts: 1438]

This was seen at a LFS. It is about 20cm TL. I thought it was Synodontis nigromaculata at first but the post cleithral process (humeral process) doesn't seem right?

[Birger]

This fish has the body style of a typical Synodontis of the Lower Guinean bioregion.

I would call this Synodontis obesus

At the very least a member of the obesa/rebeli complex.

Due to the size, process shape and pattern on the body. Also on the maxillary barbel there is supposed to be a "broad membraneus fringe" which I believe this fish has with a close look at the third image.

In case you are wondering the pictures on the data page while maybe being from this group I would not particularly call them specifically obesus or possibly they have some juvenile patterning yet. This is a tuff group to ID at the moment.




Birger

[The.Dark.One, posts: 1438]

Hi Birger

I looked at obesus but the p-cp looks too short and blunt for that sp?

[jippo, posts: 247]

I can't say it's obesus, I think something else. I knew I have seen this kind of syno somewhere before so I search all my books. Finally I find it from The World Of Catfishes(Midori Kobayagawa 1989) page 12, labeled as Synodontis nigrita. It's not nigrita but I think these are same species so we can be quite sure it's not hybrid.

Closest species I could find is Synodontis polystigma but Seegers says it has unspotted head.

[Birger]

we can be quite sure it's not hybrid

I agree with this as well.

[The.Dark.One, posts: 1438]

yeah, I think it is a wild fish, but what - I don't know

[Birger]

At the very least a member of the obesa/rebeli complex.

I think that is the closest we can come until this group is finished being looked at.