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Scientific Name Synodontis carineae  Vreven & Ibala Zamba, 2011
Common Name
Type Locality Kouilou-Niari River basin, Pont du Niari, at bridge on road Dolisie-Nyanga, 3°33.314'S, 12°20.583'E, Republic of Congo
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 Carine Plancke, anthropologist who worked with the Punu people in the Nyanga area (Congo Republic) in 2005-2007, and who especially likes the colour yellow. In this way the species name indirectly refers to the vivid yellow shine typical for the live colour pattern of this species.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 164mm or 6.5" 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.

Live specimens have a vivid yellowish overall colour, with large brownish irregularly shaped and often indistinct spots, ventral side of head and body uniformly whitish. The body has two more or less parallel, lateral series of irregularly shaped dark brownish spots or undulating stripes one just above and one just below the lateral line. Dorsal, adipose and caudal fins have the same vivid yellowish colour with irregularly-shaped large dark brown spots. Pupil is black, iris with an orange edge directly around pupil. Approximately upper most 3/4 of iris blackish, lower 1/4 greyish. Lips whitish with a well-marked reddish hue. Maxillary barbel with well-developed basal membrane. Inner and outer mandibulary barbels with numerous short often paired tuberculated branches; numerous secondary branches present. Caudal fin upper lobe is generally slightly longer than lower lobe with both being slightly pointed. Humeral process is triangular, granulous, without ventral ridge; with a rather straight upper margin and terminating in a blunt point.
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.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Only known from the area of the type locality, the Kouilou-Niari River basin at the bridge over the river on the Dolisie-Nyanga road (Republic of Congo) and probably endemic to the basin.
African Waters, Kouilou (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Not Evaluated
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Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
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Reference Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 21 (no. 4) for Dec. 2010, pp 360, Figs. 1-2.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2019 Oct 21 23:54 (species record created: 2011 Feb 28 18:46)