Microsynodontis

Indefinite Microsynodontis species from the Dja in Cameroon.

The Zwergfiederbartwelse ( Microsynodontis ) are a genus of African Catfishes. Most species of the genus live in Lower Guinea, and some in the Congo Basin and another ( Microsynodontis pollination ) in Guinea and Liberia.

Features

Zwergfiederbartwelse be three to four inches long and differ from Synodontis by the slimmer and more elongated lower body, the rounded or spade- shaped tail fin ( forked at Synodontis ) and the free eye rims. Of their three Bartel pairs the two are pinnate on the lower jaw. The dorsal fin is much shorter than the directly behind incipient, low but very long adipose fin. The pelvic fins are short and do not reach the anal fin. The fin spines of the pectoral fin is slightly outside and inside heavily cut. The teeth in the upper jaw are pointed, the hook- shaped lower jaw. In the maxilla, the teeth 60 and 120 are arranged in a crescent-shaped thick band. Microsynodontis species are generally dark brown in color and have a more or less pronounced vertical, bright banding on.

Species

Fishbase lists twelve species:

• Microsynodontis armatus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis batesii Boulenger, 1903 ( type species )
• Microsynodontis christyi Boulenger, 1920
• Microsynodontis emarginatus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis hirsutus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis laevigatus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis lamberti Poll & Gosse, 1963
• Microsynodontis nannoculus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis nasutus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis notatus Ng, 2004
• Microsynodontis pollination Lambert, 1958
• Microsynodontis Vigilis Ng, 2004