ornatus, Synodontis Pappenheim [P.] in Pappenheim & Boulenger 1914:251, Pl. 5 (fig. 2) [Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Zentral-Afrika Expedition, 1907-1908 v. 5 (Zool. 3); ref. 18518] Lake Albert [Lake Albert Nyanza]. Syntypes: ZMB 19097 (8). Type catalog: Ferraris 2007:317 [ref. 29155]. •Synonym of Synodontis nigrita Valenciennes 1840 -- (Poll 1971:57 [ref. 7700], Gosse 1986:135 [ref. 6194], Ferraris 2007:317 [ref. 29155]). Current status: Synonym of Synodontis nigrita Valenciennes 1840. Mochokidae. Habitat: freshwater.
ornatus, Synodontis Boulenger [G. A.] 1920:29, Fig. 14 [Annales du Musee du Congo Belge (Serie 1) v. 2 (fasc. 4); ref. 587] Poko, Democratic Republic of Congo. Holotype (unique): MRAC 7144. Type catalog: Ferraris 2007:319 [ref. 29155]. Objectively invalid; preoccupied by Synodontis ornatus Pappenheim 1914, replaced by Synodontis ornatissimus Gosse 1982. Gender of genus treated by us as masculine. •Valid as Synodontis ornatus Boulenger 1920 -- (Poll 1971:371 [ref. 7700]). •Synonym of Synodontis ornatissima Gosse 1982 -- (Ferraris 2007:319 [ref. 29155]). Current status: Synonym of Synodontis ornatissimus Gosse 1982. Mochokidae. Habitat: freshwater.
I can see where this could be confusing...
They seemed to really want to use this as a name.
In the first paper, by Pappenheim & Boulenger(1914) shows a drawing of a fish that very much looks like a Synodontis nigrita, that one is now considered as a synonym of nigrita.
The second paper by Boulenger (1920) shows a drawing of a fish that looks like the images that are shown here
which this second ornatus is now a synonym of. If you look in Seegers Catfishes of Africa book the little drawing in the corner of the picture for ornatissimus(pg.469)is from this paper.
If you leave this here I will rewrite it for the data page and also make a mention in nigrita as well.
Birger
