PlanetCatfish.com - Mochokiella paynei (Mochokidae) Cat-eLog

Close-up of head
Close-up of barbels
Lateral view
Frontal view
Close-up of head

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Mochokiella paynei** Howes, 1980
Common Names	Payne's Catfish Payne's Afrikanischer Wels (Germany), Paynes Skægmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Kassawe Forest Reserve, Sierra Leone.
Etymology	Mochokiella: From the Latin diminutive suffix -ella; in reference to the small size of the fish (literally: "a small Mochokus").
Articles	- CotM 2008 November
Species Information
Size	65mm or 2.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus Mochokiella is distinguished from all other African siluroids by a combination of characters including small adult size, unilateral branching of the mandibular barbels, supero-lateral position of the eye, bands of villiform jaw teeth, elongate humeral process, and paired 3rd nuchal plate. Mochokiella paynei is a small catfish with body shape typical of most other Mochokinae. Its coloration is a patchwork of dark Vandyke Brown areas separated by networks of light cream to beige. M. paynei is most similar to members of the genus Microsynodontis, but can be distinguished from the latter by its forked caudal fin, longer head, larger eyes, longer mandibular barbels, longer dorsal and pectoral spines, and greater body depth.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: known from the type locality, Kassawe Forest Reserve, Sierra Leone. African Waters, Sierra Leone Waters, Kassawe Forest Reserve (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
Temperature	22.0-24.0°C or 71.6-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	The type locality is a forest stream in Kassewe Forest Reserve with a pH of 6.6.
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology v. 38 (no. 3), pp 165, Figs. 1, 2b.
Registered Keepers	There are 26 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 4 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 19 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.100.270
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)