Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
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Scientific Name | Synodontis clarias (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Name | Red Tail Syno |
Type Locality | America [in error, actual Africa]. |
Synonym(s) | Pimelodus clarias, Pimelodus synodontes, Pimelodus synodontis, Silurus callarias, Silurus clarias, Synodontis macrodon |
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. Clarias means lively. |
Species Information | |
Size | 360mm or 14.2" 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. A species made distinctive by its red tail. Both sexes have this although it is not clear if it is present in young fish. |
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. |
Habitat Information | |
Distribution | Africa: Chad, Niger (including the Bénoué River), Senegal, Gambia and Volta basins, also in the Nile. African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger, Bénoué (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Chad (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Sénégal (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Gambia (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Nile (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Volta (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. |
pH | 6.5 - 7.5 |
Temperature | 21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range) |
Other Parameters | dH°18. |
Husbandry Information | |
Feeding | Omnivore, feeds on insect larvae, mollusks and detritus User data. |
Breeding | Unreported. |
Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
Further Information | |
Reference | Systema Naturae, Ed. X v. 1, pp 306. |
Registered Keepers | There are 15 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data. |
Wishlists | Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 2 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what. |
Spotters | Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all. |
Forum BBCode | |
Search for S. clarias | |
Look up S. clarias on AquaticRepublic.com | |
Look up S. clarias on Fishbase | |
Look up S. clarias on Encyclopedia of Life | |
Look up S. clarias on Global Biodiversity Information Facility | |
LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.287 | |
Last Update | 2020 Nov 08 05:14 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00) |