All FishesMochokidaeMochokinaeMicrosynodontis  |  | 

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Scientific Name Microsynodontis polli  Lambert, 1958
Common Names Pygmy Syno
Pygmæskægmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Gbin River, French Guinea.
Pronunciation mike row sin oh don tiss
Etymology Microsynodontis: From the Greek mikros, meaning small, and synodontis; in reference to the small size of members of this genus. Named to honour Max Poll, a Belgian ichthyologist who worked extensively with fish from Lake Tanganyika and the Congo drainage.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 41mm or 1.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The genus Microsynodontis has an interrupted lateral line. The caudal fin is usually rounded or truncate, sometimes with a slight indent. There is a long adipose fin with no fin ray. Three pairs of barbels with the mandibular barbels branched.

This species is highly variable in color, having a yellowish to brown base color, sometimes with dark spots, others have vertical looking slashes of lighter color or a combination of all the above, some large specimens even show a tendency to go an almost all whitish coloration. They are a longer looking species when compared to most others as they get bigger, this is also partly due to the long rounded caudal fin.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Gbin River, upper Niger in Guinea. Reported from Saint John, Liberia.
African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger, Upper Niger, Gbin (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo, Pool Malebo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 6.5 - 7.2
Temperature 22.0-25.0°C or 71.6-77°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters dH°8.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines v. 57 (nos 1-2), pp 42, Fig. 1.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2023 Jan 12 05:42 (species record created: 2002 Aug 31 00:00)