Nile catfish

Brachysynodontis batensoda, juvenile fish in the supine position

Synodontis batensoda ( Syn: Brachysynodontis batensoda ) is a Fiederbartwelsart that occurs in the basin of the Nile, Senegal, Gambia, Niger and Benue, and in the catchment area of Lake Chad.

Features

Synodontis batensoda is 50 cm long and reaches a maximum weight of 1.5 kg. Its short, stout body distinguishes it from most other Fiederbartwelsen. The high dorsal fin is tapered and is supported by a powerful sting and seven, simply branched fin rays. Just beyond lies the unusually large dorsal fin, which extends to the caudal peduncle. The caudal fin is deeply forked. Characteristic of the style are the membranes provided with maxillary barbels. The anterior mandible Bartel is just inside the rear feathered on both sides. The shoulder extension is long, curved outward at the top and dull at the end.

  • Fins formula: Dorsal 1/7, Anal 0/4-5/7-9 1, pectoral 1/8-9.

Synodontis batensoda is dark, the back and sides of adult fish bleak brown -green to blue-gray, the abdomen black. The fins are gray, the spotted unpaired dark. Juveniles have dark -spotted sides, between a lighter network drawing.

Synodontis batensoda feeds, inter alia, of plankton, algae and detritus, probably of cancer and molluscs, midge larvae and other insects.

System

The species was described in 1832 by the German naturalist and explorer Eduard Rüppell as Synodontis batensoda, 1862 assigned by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker the monotypic genus Brachysynodontis and set 2008 as a result of phylogenetic studies in the genus Synodontis again. Synodontis batensoda is closely related to the very similar Synodontis membranaceus.

Pictures of Nile catfish

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