/siluriformes/mochokidae/synodontis/macropunctatus/1.jpg "Synodontis macropunctatus")
/siluriformes/mochokidae/synodontis/macropunctatus/2.jpg "Synodontis macropunctatus")
Close-up of head
 All Fishes Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synodontis macropunctatus Wright & Page, 2008 |
| Common Name | |
| Type Locality | Nhefo River, affluent of Luachimo River, about 50 kilometers south of Dumdo, Angola. |
| Synonym(s) | Synodontis macropunctata |
| 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. This specific epithet refers to its large (macro=large) spots (punctatus,-a=spots). |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 229mm or 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. Large, discreet, widely spaced dark spots. Skin on body with small, villous papillae. Maxillary barbel without basel membrane. 8-11 branches on the lateral mandibular barbel. Adipose fin long and well developed. |
| Sexing | Genital papillae conical in males, absent in females. No additional sexual dimorphism apparent. |
| General Remarks | Poll (1967) wrote that this species prefers deeper water near river banks. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Africa: tributaries of the Kasai River in Angola. African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo, Kasai (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map. |
| IUCN Red List Category | Not Evaluated |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Breeding | Unreported in the aquarium. |
| Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
| Further Information | |
| Reference | Copeia 2008 (no. 2), pp294, Figs. 1-3. |
| 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 is no record of this fish being seen. |
| Forum BBCode | |
 | Look up S. macropunctatus on PlanetCatfish.com |
 | Look up S. macropunctatus on Fishbase |
 | Look up S. macropunctatus on Encyclopedia of Life |
 | Look up S. macropunctatus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
| LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.2087 | |
| Last Update | 2025 Jan 02 00:42 (species record created: 2008 Jun 27 03:54) |