Synodontis khartoumensis

Synodontis khartoumensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Mochokidae
Genus: Synodontis
Species: S. khartoumensis
Binomial name
Synodontis khartoumensis
Abu Gideiri, 1967

Synodontis khartoumensis is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Uganda where it occurs in Lake Albert and the Nile basin.[2] It was first described by Yousif Babiker Abu Gideiri in 1967. The original specimens were obtained in the Blue Nile, about 2 miles away from the confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile, near Khartoum, Sudan.[3] The species name khartoumensis is derived from the city of Khartoum, where the type species was originally found.[4]

Description

Like all members of the Synodontis genus, S. khartoumensis 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.[3] 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.[6] The adipose fin is large and the tail, or caudal fin, is forked.[3]

The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins are hardened into stiff spines. These spines can be raised into position at right angles to the body and locked into position for defensive purposes.[7][8] The ability to lock the spines into place comes from several small bones attached to the spine, and once raised, the spines cannot be folded down by exerting pressure on the tip.[8]

The fish has 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. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked".[3][5]

The maximum total length of the species is 21 centimeters (8.3 in).[2] Generally, females in the Synodontis genus tend to be slightly larger than males of the same age.[9]

Habitat and behavior

In the wild, the species occurs in running and standing waters in the upper Nile basin.[1] It is harvested for human consumption.[1] As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores, consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes.[10] The reproductive habits of most of the species of Synodontis are not known, beyond some instances of obtaining egg counts from gravid females.[10] Spawning likely occurs during the flooding season between July and October, and pairs swim in unison during spawning.[11] The growth rate is rapid in the first year, then slows down as the fish age.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Getahun, A. & Twongo, T. (2010). "Synodontis khartoumensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2016). "Synodontis khartoumensis" in FishBase. June 2016 version.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Synodontis khartoumensis Gideiri, 1967". Planet Catfish. 31 Jan 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Scharpf, Christopher & Kenneth Lazara (12 Sep 2016). "Order SILURIFORMES: Families MALAPTERURIDAE, MOCHOKIDAE, SCHILBEIDAE, AUCHENOGLANIDIDAE, CLAROTEIDAE and LACANTUNIIDAE". The ETYFish Project. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 Cuvier, Georges (1934). The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization, Volume 10. Translated by Griffith, Edward. London: Whittaker and Co. p. 406.
  6. ↑ Boulenger, George Albert (1909). Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history). London: British Museum. p. 391.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Joseph; T. Grande & M. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (Fifth ed.). John Wiley and Sons. p. 227.
  8. 1 2 Scherge, M.; S. Gorb & S. Gorb. Biological Micro- and Nanotribology. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 97–98.
  9. 1 2 H. M. Bishai & Y. B. Abu Gideiri (1965). "Studies on the biology of genus Synodontis at Khartoum". Hydrobiologia. 26 (1–2): 85–97. doi:10.1007/BF00142257.
  10. 1 2 Wright, J.J. & L.M. Page (2006). "Taxonomic Revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)". Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 46 (4): 99–154.
  11. ↑ 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.

Data related to Synodontis khartoumensis at Wikispecies

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