Synodontis multimaculatus - what does it look like?

[Mike_Noren]

Can someone point me towards a picture or description of what a S. multimaculatus looks like?

[Silurus]

Here you go:

[Mike_Noren]

Thank you!

You wouldn't happen to know if it's supposed to have spots on the belly?
The fish in the picture looks to have a white belly, whereas the two alleged multimaculatus I've got have spotted bellies (and no white markings anywhere in the fins). They're also considerably fatter and have spots in the dorsal and caudal fins. They look much like young ocellifer.

I'll see if I can get some pictures of them tomorrow. They're a bit stressed right now and not very cooperative.

[Silurus]

The original description does not mention a spotted belly, and I suspect that it doesn't have one. I believe that S. multimaculatus would be closest to Synodontis sp.(7) in the Cat-eLog.

[Mike_Noren]

I've now managed to get some pictures, and as you can see here:



it's not TOTALLY dissimilar to multimaculatus, but the markings are quite different. The fish is about 6-7 cm TL. The color in the photo is fairly accurate. I think this is the presumed male - the presumed female has a lighter base color and is much fatter.

Pretty fish, but I'm starting to think it's a hybrid.

More pictures at: http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/name_that_synodontis.htm

I guess I should move this to the identification forum?

[Silurus]

Yes, it is a hybrid. The coppery eyes are characteristic of a number of Lake Tang species, but the spotted fins are not.

[Mike_Noren]

Too bad. I'd have liked to get hold of real multimaculatus. Oh well, back to the LFS they go.

[Jools]

I have these in the cat-elog as

Synodontis sp(3)

and have a suspiction they might be an "improved" production of

Synodontis sp(1)

.

Jools