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Scientific Name Synodontis cf. polli(1)   
Common Name
Type Locality Lake Tanganyika
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. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 100mm or 3.9" 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.

This is a dark colour form and as such is difficult to distinguish from S. polli. It is also smaller and more slender than that species.
Sexing Unknown.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Lake Tanganyika, DRC, Africa
African Waters, Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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pH 7.0 - 8.5
Temperature 22.0-24.0°C or 71.6-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding A very easy fish to feed. All prepared foods are accepted and the fish will eat heavily thus making conditioning a relatively simple task. User data.
Furniture Bogwood is utilised although rock clusters appear more preferable.
Compatibility A social species tolerant of their own kind and unimposing.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2011 Jan 27 07:55 (species record created: 2002 Jun 14 00:00)