PlanetCatfish.com - Synodontis smiti (Mochokidae) Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Mochokidae Mochokinae Synodontis | |

Close-up of mouth

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis smiti** Boulenger, 1902
Common Names	Longtail Synodontis Smit's Syno
Type Locality	Ubangi River at Banzyville, Democratic Republic of Congo, about 4°18'N, 21°11'E.
Synonym(s)	Synodontis tenuis
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.
Species Information
Size	222mm or 8.7" 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.
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: Ubangi and Lualaba rivers. African Waters, Congo, Ubangi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Congo, Upper Congo, Lualaba (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 2009.
Temperature	23.0-25.0°C or 73.4-77°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Annales du Musee du Congo (Ser. Zoology) v. 2 (fasc. 2), pp 45, Pl. 12 (fig. 3).
Registered Keepers	There are 2 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for S. smiti
	Look up S. smiti on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up S. smiti on Fishbase
	Look up S. smiti on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. smiti on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.299
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:39 (species record created: 2006 Dec 24 07:45)