AquaticRepublic.com - Synodontis robbianus (Mochokidae) All Fishes

All Fishes ⇒ Mochokidae ⇒ Mochokinae ⇒ Synodontis | |

Adult
Close-up of head
Stamp
45 mm SL

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis robbianus** Smith, 1875
Common Name	Russet Synodontis
Type Locality	Old Calabar and lower Niger River, West Africa.
Synonym(s)	Synodontis robbiana
Pronunciation	sin oh don tiss
Etymology	According to Cuvier, Synodontis is an "ancient name for an undetermined fish from the Nile". It is not derived, as often reported, from syn-, together and odous, tooth, presumed etymology of the lizardfish genus Synodus and refers to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth of both genera. Named after Reverend Alexander Robb, a Scottish missionary in Old Calabar [= Nigeria]. It uses an older way to form a patronym, using the ending -us (as opposed to -i) to indicate the name honours that of a male person.
Species Information
Size	138mm or 5.4" 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.
Sexing	First lay the fish in your hand with its head toward your palm and the tail toward your fingers. Hold the dorsal spine between your middle and ring finger so the fish is belly up and you won't get punctured by the sharp fin spines (which hurts - be careful). The genital pore is in a small furrow of tissue (in healthy fish) and will be obstructed by the pelvic fins. Pull down on the tail gently to arch the fish's spine and the pelvic fins will stand and the furrow open to display the genital pore and the anus of the fish. The male has a somewhat ridged genital papillae on which the spermatoduct is on the back side, facing the tail fin. A gravid female will also show an extended papillae but the oviduct is on the ventral side of the papillae. It may also show a little redness if gravid. A thin or emaciated female will have just two pink pores, the oviduct and the anus.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Lower Niger and Cross River (Old Calabar) in Nigeria. African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger, Lower Niger (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Cross (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Data Deficient , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH	6.0 - 7.8
Temperature	21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	dH 10-25.
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. v. 8, pp 92, Fig. 1.
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 are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up S. robbianus on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up S. robbianus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. robbianus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.557
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2001 May 04 00:00)