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

Cat-eLog Mochokidae Mochokinae Synodontis | |

Group
Juvenile
Juvenile
Close-up of head
Close-up of spots on mature fish
Close-up of mouth
Close-up of humeral

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis ocellifer** Boulenger, 1900
Common Names	Ocellated Synodontis Plettet Skægmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Kunchow Creek, Gambia River, western Africa.
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss - awe CELL if err
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. ''ocellifer'', having little eyes, from ''ocellus'', diminutive of ''oculus'', eye and "ifer" meaning "to carry". In reference to the black spots (possibly with white centers) found on the flanks of this species.
Articles	- CotM 2012 August
Species Information
Size	490mm or 19.3" 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. Pale yellowish-brown body with black spots. Some specimens have lighter background coloration or minimal spotting. The characteristic to look for when comparing with other similar spotted species is the adipose fin. In S. ocellifer is is very long running almost from caudal to dorsal fin.
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: various river basins from Senegal to Chad (Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Chad, Niger basins); including the Bénoué. African Waters, Sénégal (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, Volta (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, Nigeria Waters, Niger (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Agulu (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 2019.
pH	6.2 - 8.0
Temperature	23.0-28.0°C or 73.4-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivore. As with other Synodontis, but with a little more meat. User data.
Furniture	Rocks, driftwood, plants.
Compatibility	Juvenile fish are suited to a community tank, but adult fish grow fairly large, and may eat smaller fish.
Breeding	By hormone injection in Eastern Europe.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1900 (pt 3) (art. 4), pp 514.
Registered Keepers	There are 76 registered keepers, 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 are 14 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update	2023 Jan 12 05:33 (species record created: 2001 May 04 00:00)