Lake Tanganyika Synodontis

[The.Dark.One]

These were purchased yesterday on behalf of a friend. They are supposed to be wild caught. The first one looks like a semi-adult S. tanganaicae, the last one a female lucipinnis? I'm now worried that the first one might be a hybrid though they are supposed to be wild caught.

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[unblinded]

I fear your fears about the 1st one may be true. Looks like a hybrid to me. The only lake Tanganyika syno that I know has spots in the caudal fin is melanostictus.

[The.Dark.One]

That is one of the reasons I am wary but looking at the drawings of adult tanganaicae
e they just have spotted fins with no bars

[Marc van Arc]

No expert, but my first impression was "this is something with S. euptera in it" (especially the neck region and the dorsal).

[The.Dark.One]

I've looked at Wright and Page and it says:

"All rayed fins with small, dark spots similar to those on body. Juvenile specimens with black triangles at bases of rayed fins." The spotted fins (withn no black bases) can be seen on the drawing of an adult in Poll.

The head profile and post cleithral process matches the image in the clog:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/ima ... ge_id=2288

[Birger]

I agree with steve on this except that the fish has some attributes of a hybrid body shape, this fish looks adult and has been well fed....what is the size of this beasty?

Birger

[The.Dark.One]

About 6 inches TL

[Richard B]

Can you elaborate on "Supposed to be wild caught"

Is the source reliable?

[The.Dark.One]

A fishkeeper brought them in and insisted he got them from wild. There was a group of large grandiops and 2 of these mixed in. The smaller one did have the black triangles in the fins.

[Richard B]

A fishkeeper brought them in and insisted he got them from wild. There was a group of large grandiops and 2 of these mixed in. The smaller one did have the black triangles in the fins.

Hmmmmm

He may have been told they were wild & repeated this in good faith but where did he get them from? Somewhere credible?

I recall seeing TSN hybrids on Aquabid labelled 'wilds'...

[Birger]

So, I have been waiting for time to take a good look at the Wright & Page revision on this one.

I think there is no reason to disagree with this being a maturing

Synodontis tanganaicae

some Tanganyikan synos have this high back and the predorsal profile was odd to me but I think just because we are used to looking for this in hybrids. As has been pointed out this fish matches nicely with the Lectotype in the revision and the fact that the smaller of the two purchased still has the bars on the caudal helps as well.

It would be nice to see more proof of these and now we know what to look for that may help.

I have seen other hybrid mixes of tanganyikan synos but I do not believe this is one.

Birger

[The.Dark.One]

Thanks Birger.

Hopefully we can see the fish when it has put some more size on and it may add to the debate.