Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Siluriformes (Catfish) > Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes)
Etymology: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335). More on author: Peters.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical, preferred ?; 13°S - 27°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: middle and lower Zambezi south to the Pongolo system (Ref. 7248). Absent from upper Save-Runde system (Ref. 7248). Also reported from the Luangwe (upper Congo River basin)(Ref. 58032), but specimens identified as S. rukwaensis in Ref. 82238; needs confirmation. Reports from the Angolan Congo basin (Ref. 11970) refer to S. macropuncatus (Ref. 75786).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 15.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 43.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7248); max. published weight: 820.00 g (Ref. 7248)

The spines are said to be poisonous (Ref. 4537). Occurs in pools and slow flowing reaches of perennial and seasonal rivers. Favors riverine habitats to floodplains. Shelters in holes or crevices or on the underside of logs, frequently in an upside-down position. Active at night, feeds on detritus and plant matter such as seeds as well as small invertebrates like insects and snails. Will scavenge readily. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Breeds in summer (Ref. 7248).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3202)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Venomous (Ref. 4537)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

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Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00891 (0.00435 - 0.01827), b=3.13 (2.93 - 3.33), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 2.7 ±0.34 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Synodontis zambezensis Peters, 1852