Juvenile
Dorsal view
Lateral view
Video
Stamp
Adult showing vertical barring
Close-up of humeral process
Head-on view
Ventral view
Stamp
Stamp
Stamp
Stamp
Dorsal fin
Close-up ventral view
Caudal fin
Lateral view
Close-up of mouth
Pectoral fin ray
 All Fishes Data Sheet | |
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| Scientific Name | Synodontis angelicus Schilthuis, 1891 |
| Common Names | Polka Dot Syno Angel Squeaker, Englemalle (Denmark), Perlhuhnwels (Germany), Polkadot Squeaker |
| Type Locality | Kinshasa, Stanley Pool, upper Congo River near Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| Synonym(s) | Synodontis angelica, Synodontis angelicus zonatus, Synodontis tholloni, Synodontis werneri |
| 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. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 550mm or 21.7" 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. 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. 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 African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map. |
| IUCN Red List Category | Least Concern , a distribution map is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009. |
| pH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| Temperature | 23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show species within this range) |
| Other Parameters | A hardy fish that can adapt to most conditions. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
| Further Information | |
| Reference | Tijdschrift der Nederlandsche Dierkundige Vereeniging, Ser. 2 v. 3, pp 87. |
| Registered Keepers | There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my fish" data. |
| 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 10 records of this fish being seen, view them all. |
| More Resources | |
| Forum BBCode | |
 | Look up S. angelicus on PlanetCatfish.com |
 | Look up S. angelicus on Fishbase |
 | Look up S. angelicus on Encyclopedia of Life |
 | Look up S. angelicus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.278 | |
| Last Update | Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am (Species record created: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am) |