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 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synodontis thamalakanensis Fowler, 1935 |
| Common Names | Bubblebarb Squeaker Borrelbaard-skreeubaber (South African) |
| Type Locality | Thamalakane River at Maun, Botswana. |
| Pronunciation | sin oh don tiss |
| Etymology | According to Cuvier, Synodontis is an "ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile". It is not derived, as often reported, from syn-, together and odous, tooth, presumed etymology of the lizardfish genus Synodus and refers to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth of both genera. Named in reference to the Thamalakane River |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 175mm or 6.9" 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. D 1, 7; A v-v1, 8-9. Dorsal fin and spine long, longer than head length, caudal forked. Maxillary barbels strongly papillose and with a broad black basel membrane, mandibular teeth 17-28 in a broad band, premaxillary toothpad with a distinct ventral shelf, primary and secondary teeth distinct, tertiary teeth 13-27 in 1 or 2 rows, mandibular barbels with short, stubby branches. The humeral process is broad and bilaterally convex. The adipose fin is not very large. The base coloration is light grey with narrow blackish streaks and spots on the body; these are usually longitudinally oriented and may also merge together to form stripes. There are dots on the head and fins. |
| 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 fish's 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 gravid. A thin or emaciated female will have just two pink pores, the oviduct and the anus. |
| General Remarks | See also Skelton, P (2001) A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik, pg256. Seegers, (2008) The Catfishes of Africa pg.498. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Africa: southern Africa. African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Okavango (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map. |
| IUCN Red List Category | Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2007. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Breeding | Unknown |
| Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
| Further Information | |
| Reference | Annals of the Transvaal Museum v. 16 (pt 2), pp 274, Fig. 12. |
| Registered Keepers | There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my cats" data. |
| Wishlists | Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what. |
| Spotters | Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it. |
| Forum BBCode | |
| Search for S. thamalakanensis | |
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 | Look up S. thamalakanensis on Fishbase |
 | Look up S. thamalakanensis on Encyclopedia of Life |
 | Look up S. thamalakanensis on Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
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| Last Update | 2020 Oct 22 03:50 (species record created: 2011 Jan 13 22:20) |