Synodontis nigrita
| Synodontis nigrita | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Mochokidae |
| Genus: | Synodontis |
| Species: | S. nigrita
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| Binomial name | |
| Synodontis nigrita Valenciennes, 1840
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| Synonyms | |
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Synodontis fascipinna Nichols & La Monte, 1953 | |
Synodontis nigrita, known as the false upside down catfish,[2] is a species of upside-down catfish that occurs widely in northern Africa.[3] It was first described by French zoologist Achille Valenciennes in 1840. The type specimen is in the Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle de Paris.[4]
Description
Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. nigrita has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin.[5] The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process.[2] The shape and size of the humeral process helps to identify the species. In S. nigrita, the humeral process is as much longer than it is broad, with a ridge on the bottom edge, and with a pointed back end.[4]
The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw. The maxillary barbel is long and straight without any branches, with a broad membrane at the base.[4] It extends to a length about 1 to 1+2⁄3 times the length of the head.[4] The outer pair of mandibular barbels is about twice the length of the inner pair, and both pairs have short, simple branches.[4]
The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins of Syntontis species are hardened into stiff spines.[2] In S. nigrita, the spine of the dorsal fin is straight or slightly curved, 3⁄4 to 1 times the length of the head, smooth in the front and serrated on the back.[4] The remaining portion of the dorsal fin is made up of seven branching rays.[4] The spine of the pectoral fin about the same size as the dorsal spine, and serrated on both sides.[4] The adipose fin is 2+2⁄3 to 3 times as long as it is deep.[4] The anal fin contains four unbranched and eight to nine branched rays.[4] The tail, or caudal fin, is deeply forked, with the upper lobe slightly longer.[4]
All members of Syndontis have a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth. This structure contains several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. In S. nigrita, the toothpad forms a short and broad band.[4] On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of Syndontis are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked".[2][5] The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in S. nigrita, there are about 30 to 35 teeth on the mandible.[4]
The body color is brown or olive to blackish, with round black spots likely. The fins are greyish to blackish; the caudal fin has black spots or black cross bars. Juveniles are brown, with black spots.[4]
The maximum total length of the species is 33.5 centimetres (13.2 in).[3] Generally, females in the genus Synodontis tend to be slightly larger than males of the same age.[6]
Habitat and behavior
In the wild, the species has been found throughout northern Africa. In central Africa, it has been recorded in the
See also
References
- ^ . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Synodontis nigrita Valenciennes, 1840". Planet Catfish. 19 Jul 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2016). "Synodontis nigrita" in FishBase. June 2016 version.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Boulenger, George Albert (1909). Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history). London: British Museum. pp. 429–430.
- ^ a b Cuvier, Georges (1934). The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization, Volume 10. Translated by Griffith, Edward. London: Whittaker and Co. p. 406.
- ^ .
- ^ a b Wright, J.J. & L.M. Page (2006). "Taxonomic Revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)". Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 46 (4): 99–154.
- ^ John P. Friel & Thomas R. Vigliotta (March 2, 2009). "Mochokidae Jordan 1923: African squeaker and suckermouth catfishes". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
External links
Data related to Synodontis nigrita at Wikispecies