Synodontis sp. Crocodile Island

[redtigrinus]

This pic is not my property.

Anyone every heard of these guys?

Trying to determine if they are a hybrid or just a new species.

Thoughts?

[Silurus]

I think

Synodontis polli

. Read this.

[redtigrinus]

I dont think they are polli, but I could be wrong. According to the seller these fish are already between 5-7". Which is much bigger than the average size adult polli.

Thanks for your input. Anyone else?

[Birger]

Crocodile Island is supposed to have some different looking sorts of synos, it could possibly be one of those but the picture is not good enough to go with any kind of ID or even good guess, a full body shot in the water would be best.

Birger

[Richard B]

I'd like to see more pics but thie one depicted (also on Aquabid) looks untypical - that said polli is either a highly variable species or there are undescribed species that look very similar.

I'm afraid that again we are trying to lump indivisuals under a known name, whereas in reality it might not be possible

[redtigrinus]

I agree. Im trying to get a pic of these animals in their holding tank I'm also trying to secure them. We'll see what happens.

[redtigrinus]

I think it may be an undescribed species.

[redtigrinus]

Just secured 5 if these fish. Ill post pics when they come in Wednesday. Maybe then we can get a better sense of what these fish are.

[redtigrinus]

Here are the pics as promised. A little disappointed that only one came in with that aberrant pattern but they are all nice nonetheless. Let know what you think. The smaller ones are polli in my opinion its this big guy that I'm not sure about. Please share your thoughts. I kinda think it may be a pattern morph of the polli but I'm just playing around with ideas.

[Birger]

Well when I first saw it I was kicking around this being the elusive ilebrevis but I am quite sure that is not the case.

Just to clarify, this is the same fish? Interesting how one side the spots come together and the other they do not at all.

I have seen similar before but was not sure of the location.

I would go with an undescribed species...and stick with Synodontis sp. crocodile island.

If you like...you could get me some images or even these ones if you will have trouble getting better, I would be pleased to place them in the Cat-eLog under this name.

Could be one more step to trying to understand these lake synos.

Birger

[redtigrinus]

I don't know if it's the same fish from the first pic I posted which wasn't mine. That pic belongs to the seller. The pics I just posted are 2 different fish the 1st pic is of one fish the 2nd & 3rd pic are the same fish. I only have the one that looks that way.

I agree sticking with crocodile island name is a good idea. If you think those pics are ok to go up on the cat-e-log by all means use them I have many more that may be a bit better. I think I may be able to get some better pics this weekend though.

[Birger]

Okay, that makes sense now...I actually also have an interest in the first picture, you have more fish like this, the spots are too small for polli and polli do not have spots on the anal and ventral fins(which is very possible in ilebrevis).

Would it be too much to ask for more pictures of these?

Birger

[redtigrinus]

Sure thing I'll take some more this evening.

[redtigrinus]

I think that you may be on to something about the ilebrevis theory for the one fish. I have 3 more just like it.

[The.Dark.One]

Aren't these young

Synodontis dhonti

? The post-cleithral process (humeral process) seems to match, so does the teeth, and the barbels, and head shape. It's just the spots/markings that are different but this could be due to it being a juvenile and the holotype an adult. I can't make out if there is an axillary pore in the fish in this thread.

[Richard B]

I'm wary of saying dhonti since it's only known from the holotype & no-one can be sure if juvenilles have spots or not.

Anyone know where crocodile island is in relation to Kilewa Bay?

It would be interesting to see if these do go uniform in colour and max out at 14" body size

[Birger]

I'm wary of saying dhonti since it's only known from the holotype & no-one can be sure if juvenilles have spots or not.

I agree...it would be great for redtigrinus to keep us posted on the growth etc. of the fish, It would be nice to see eventual size and possible color in the future...but calling this dhonti would be jumping ahead yet...

Anyone know where crocodile island is in relation to Kilewa Bay?

Crocodile is in the south tip...there is a Kilewe about a third up the east side, just south of the mouth of the Ifume River.

Birger

[redtigrinus]

The fish has been doing really well. Im hoping the seller I bought him from can get more.

[Richard B]

This fish reminds me of a pic in "Tanganyika Cichlids in Their Natural Habitat " - i'm at work at the moment so no access to my copy to quote the page number

Anyone else know the pic i'm referring to?