AquaticRepublic.com - Synodontis vanderwaali (Mochokidae) All Fishes

All Fishes ⇒ Mochokidae ⇒ Mochokinae ⇒ Synodontis | |

Mambova Rapids about 30 min upstream from Kazungula, Zambia
Mambova Rapids about 30 min upstream from Kazungula, Zambia
Ventral view
Close-up of head
Close-up of mouth & barbels
Habitat

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Synodontis vanderwaali** Skelton & White, 1990
Common Names	Finetooth Squeaker Fryntand-skreeubaber (South African)
Type Locality	Okavango River, 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. The species is named for the collector of the holotype, Dr. Ben Van der Waal,in recognition of his donations of fish collections from Northern Nanibian rivers to the J. L. B. Smith institute of Icthyology and the Albany Museum.
Species Information
Size	160mm or 6.3" 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, 7; A v-vi, 7-9. Dorsal fin spine about equal length to head length, caudal forked. Diagnostic features are a large number of mandibular teeth (25-41) in a single row, premaxillary toothpad with a narrow ventral shelf, primary and secondary teeth distinct and a very high number of fine tertiary teeth in several rows across the toothpad. Maxillary barbels simple and long, extending beyond pectoral bases, with narrow dark basel membrane, mandibular barbels with short, stubby branches. The humeral process is broad and has a blunt tip, and its upper margin is convex. The base coloration is olive-brown and covered in pupil to eye-sized round to elongate dark brown spots that may run together to form vermiculate stripes and sometimes a reticulated pattern. The head and fins are speckled.
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	See also Skelton, P (2001) A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik, pg256. Seegers, (2008) The Catfishes of Africa pg.503.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Upper Zambezi, Okavango River and Delta, and Cunene River. African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (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	Unknown
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 1 (no. 3), pp 284, Figs. 5 (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 are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.13.29.2899
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 00:42 (species record created: 2011 Jan 13 22:18)