All FishesMochokidaeMochokinaeSynodontis  |  | 

Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Synodontis macropunctatus  Wright & Page, 2008
Common Name
Type Locality Nhefo River, affluent of Luachimo River, about 50 kilometers south of Dumdo, Angola.
Synonym(s) Synodontis macropunctata
Pronunciation sin oh don tiss
Etymology According to Cuvier, Synodontis is an "ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile". It is apparently not derived, as often reported, from syn-, together and odous, tooth, presumed etymology of the lizardfish genus Synodus and in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth of both genera. This specific epithet refers to its large (macro=large) spots (punctatus,-a=spots).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 229mm or 9" 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.

Large, discreet, widely spaced dark spots. Skin on body with small, villous papillae. Maxillary barbel without basel membrane. 8-11 branches on the lateral mandibular barbel. Adipose fin long and well developed.
Sexing Genital papillae conical in males, absent in females. No additional sexual dimorphism apparent.
General Remarks Poll (1967) wrote that this species prefers deeper water near river banks.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: tributaries of the Kasai River in Angola.
African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo, Kasai (click on these areas to find other species found there)

Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category Not Evaluated
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Copeia 2008 (no. 2), pp294, Figs. 1-3.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There is no record of this fish being seen.
Forum BBCode
Look up PlanetCatfish.com Look up S. macropunctatus on PlanetCatfish.com
Look up on Fishbase Look up S. macropunctatus on Fishbase
Look up on Encyclopedia of Life Look up S. macropunctatus on Encyclopedia of Life
Look up on Global Biodiversity Information Facility Look up S. macropunctatus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Synodontis macropunctatus QR code LFS label creator
Last Update 2020 Oct 28 16:49 (species record created: 2008 Jun 27 03:54)