AquaticRepublic.com - Synodontis melanostictus (Mochokidae) All Fishes

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Lufubu River, Zambia
Lufubu River, Zambia
Habitat: Lufubu River entering into Lake Tanganyika
Habitat: Lufubu River entering into Lake Tanganyika

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis melanostictus** Boulenger, 1906
Common Name
Type Locality	Lofu, Lake Tanganyika.
Synonym(s)	Synodontis melanostica
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 black (melas=black) spots (stictus,-a=spots).
Species Information
Size	320mm or 12.6" 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. Axillary pore absent, body with small spots, All rayed fins with small, black spots, similar to those found on body,black triangles absent, fin spines brown, 9-10 pectoral-fin rays. Humeral process triangular, wide at base tapering to sharp 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.
General Remarks	The only species of Synodontis found in the lake not endemic to the Lake Tanganyikan Basin. S.melanosticta lacks the rayed fin colouration common to almost all its Tanganyikan congeners. Inhabits littoral to benthic zones over shell,sand and mud bottoms to a maximum depth of 150 m.
Habitat Information
Distribution	East central Africa: Lake Tanganyika and its tributaries. African Waters, Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (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.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Transactions of the Zoological Society of London v. 17 (pt 6, no. 1), pp 553, Pl. 34.
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:1.13.29.1955
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 00:42 (species record created: 2008 Mar 08 03:38)