AquaticRepublic.com - Synodontis macrostoma (Mochokidae) All Fishes

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Ventral view
Close-up of mouth

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis macrostoma** Skelton & White, 1990
Common Names	Largemouth Squeaker Grootbek-skreeubaber (South African)
Type Locality	Upper Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo, Caprivi, Namibia.
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	92mm or 3.6" 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. D 1, 6; A v-vi, 7-8. A long snout, large mouth, and a distinctive premaxillary toothpad are diagnostic features. Mouth usually below level of pectoral girdle, premaxillary toothpad broad, with broad ventral shelf, primary teeth 22-31, distinct from secondary teeth, mandibular teeth 13-21 in a narrow band. Maxillary barbels simple, without basel membrane; mandibular barbel branches short and stubby. Caudal fin forked. Small spots on head, body with small and large spots, underside clear.
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.
General Remarks	It is most likely that this species is restricted to rocky environments. See also Skelton, P (2001) A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik, pg254. Seegers, (2008) The Catfishes of Africa pg.442.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Kafue, Upper Zambezi, Okavango and Cunene rivers. African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Zambesi, Kafue (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Okavango (Cubango) (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Cunene (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2007.
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 1 (no. 3), pp 281, Figs. 3 (a-b).
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 but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.2663
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 00:42 (species record created: 2010 Dec 15 18:34)