Synodontis
Fiederbartwels Syondontis cf vanderwaali from the Okavango / Namibia
Synodontis is a genus of Catfishes ( Mochokidae ), a widely used exclusively in Africa catfish family.
The name Synodontis derives from a name for a fish that was first mentioned already in Pliny. Cuvier, who had initially taken the name for a subgenus, believed that it was used for a fish from the Nile in ancient times. From the Nile originate most of the species first described. The oldest known of Synodontis Clarias, is also the type species of the genus. It was already described in 1758 by Linnaeus.
Description
The vast number of Synodontis species has a moderately stocky body sides slightly flattened. The upper profile line is strongly bent. Dorsal and pectoral fins have a strong, often serrated sting respectively. The adipose fin is relatively large and without support beam. Three pairs of barbels are placed relatively far forward on the head. The two maxillary barbels are the longest and only exception, feathery, but sometimes provided with a membrane at the base. The lower jaw are almost always pinnate and significantly shorter than the upper jaw. In many species, the males are at a small " sticks " visible, forming the genital opening. In 1990 it was discovered that Synodontis species with swim bladder muscles electric fields in order to generate communication ( Hagedorn et al. ).
Occurrence
Synodontis species are spread from the Nile in Egypt in the far north of Africa to South Africa, to the west by Senegal and Gambia to coastal rivers in Tanzania and Kenya. Areas with strong formation of new species form certainly the Congo River, but also of Lake Tanganyika.
Way of life
Field observations are relatively rare, because many species live in waters with low visibility. From aquariums observations, we know that many species during the day prefer a hidden life, and only at night are really lively. However, many species quickly get used to life in captivity and even tame, ie they can scratch themselves while feeding even on the belly. Many types like to take food on the water surface. Some species, such as the back Floating Congo catfish even prefer the supine position than normal swimming position. It is also of other species ( such as Synodontis eupterus ) announced that they occasionally swim around in the supine position, even if they just do not eat from the water surface. Presumably they live in the countryside on the embankment under the roots of trees, the corners austr their spurs into the water. You will find in the supine position, the soft belly protected at the branches and from below it preserves the fortified dorsal spine and the head armor against predators. From Lake Tanganyika, there are reports that the cuckoo Fiederbartwels can occur in such large flocks that the nets of the fishermen are so filled with fish that they are no longer able to obtain this, because otherwise they run the risk of small to bring to capsize boats.
Reproduction
Most Synodontis species operate no brood care. From some species it is known that they dismissed their eggs and sperm into caves and crevices easily into the water and lay hands as Elten animals in their own spawn. Fertilized eggs that fall into columns, where they develop into larvae that swim freely soon. From two species but is also a known brood parasitism ( cuckoo Catfishes and Synodontis grandiops ), here are spawning mouthbrooding cichlids catfish eggs foisted.
Use
Many species are popular aquarium fish. Most, but not all types are acceptable residents, second to none but also other aquarium inhabitants no harm. Especially the species from Lake Tanganyika, are coveted Aquarienpfleglinge. Must not be forgotten, however, that all Synodontis species not only potential ( young) fish eaters ( especially fish larvae and fish spawn are at risk ) bring a certain restlessness in the aquarium, but also by their nocturnal habits, are stressed by the sensitive roommate. Catfishes can, maintained in captivity, are relatively old. Busy times are care of over 30 years!
There are varying reports as to whether Synodontis species are valued as food fish. Although they are presented as such in the markets in Africa, but already early authors write that they are not very popular among consumers because their meat does not taste good.
Species
Currently, there are about 130 valid species
- Synodontis acanthomias Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis acanthoperca Friel & Vigliotta, 2006
- Synodontis afrofischeri Hilgendorf, 1888
- Synodontis alberti Schilthuis, 1891
- Synodontis albolineatus Pellegrin, 1924
- Perlhuhnwels ( Synodontis angelicus ) Schilthuis, 1891
- Synodontis annectens Boulenger, 1911
- Synodontis ansorgii Boulenger, 1911
- Synodontis arnoulti novel, 1966
- Synodontis aterrimus Poll & Roberts, 1968
- Synodontis Bastiani Daget, 1948
- Synodontis batesii Boulenger, 1907
- Synodontis batensoda ( Rüppell, 1832)
- Synodontis brichardi Poll, 1959
- Synodontis budgetti Boulenger, 1911
- Synodontis camelopardalis Poll, 1971
- Synodontis carineae Vreven & Ibala Zamba, 2011
- Synodontis caudalis Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis caudovittatus Boulenger, 1901
- Synodontis centralis Poll, 1971
- Synodontis Clarias (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Synodontis comoensis Daget & Lévêque, 1981
- Synodontis congicus Poll, 1971
- Synodontis contractus Vinciguerra, 1928
- Synodontis courteti Pellegrin, 1906
- Synodontis cuangoanus Poll, 1971
- Synodontis dageti Poll & Roman, 1967
- Synodontis decorus Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis dekimpei Paugy, 1987
- Synodontis depauwi Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis dhonti Boulenger, 1917
- Synodontis dorsomaculatus Poll, 1971
- Synodontis eburneensis Daget, 1965
- Synodontis eupterus Boulenger, 1901
- Synodontis fascipinna Nichols & La Monte, 1953
- Synodontis filamentosus Boulenger, 1901
- Synodontis flavitaeniatus Boulenger, 1919
- Synodontis frontosus Vaillant, 1895
- Synodontis fuelleborni Hilgendorf & Pappenheim, 1903
- Synodontis geledensis Günther, 1896
- Synodontis gobroni Daget, 1954
- Synodontis grandiops Wright & Page, 2006
- Synodontis granulosus Boulenger, 1900
- Synodontis grenshoffi Schilthuis, 1891
- Synodontis guttatus Günther, 1865
- Synodontis haugi Pellegrin, 1906
- Synodontis hollyi Pellegrin, 1929 [ species inquirenda ]
- Synodontis ilebrevis Wright & Page, 2006
- Synodontis irsacae Matthes, 1959
- Synodontis ituriensis Boulenger, 1920
- Synodontis iturii Steindachner, 1911
- Synodontis katangae Poll, 1971
- Synodontis khartoumensis Gideiri, 1967
- Synodontis koensis Pellegrin, 1933
- Synodontis kongonensis Musschoot & Laleye, 2008
- Synodontis laessoei Norman, 1923
- Synodontis latifrons Blache, 1964
- Synodontis leopardinus Pellegrin, 1914
- Synodontis leopardus pepper, 1896
- Synodontis levequei Paugy, 1987
- Synodontis longirostris Boulenger, 1902
- Synodontis longispinis Pellegrin, 1930
- Synodontis lucipinnis Wright & Page, 2006
- Synodontis lufirae Poll, 1971
- Synodontis macrophthalmus Poll, 1971
- Synodontis macrops Greenwood, 1963
- Synodontis macropunctatus Wright & Page, 2008
- Synodontis macrostigma Boulenger, 1911
- Synodontis macrostoma Skelton & White, 1990
- Synodontis maculosus Rüppell, 1829
- Synodontis manni De Vos, 2001
- Synodontis marmoratus Lönnberg, 1895
- Synodontis matthesi Poll, 1971
- Synodontis melanopterus Boulenger, 1903
- Synodontis melanostictus Boulenger, 1906
- Synodontis membranaceus ( Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1809)
- Synodontis multimaculatus Boulenger, 1902
- Cuckoo Fiederbartwels ( Synodontis multipunctatus ) Boulenger, 1898
- Synodontis nebulosus Peters, 1852
- Synodontis ngouniensis De Weirdt, Vreven & Fermon, 2008
- Synodontis nigrita Valenciennes, 1840
- Back floating Congo Catfish ( Synodontis nigriventris ) David, 1936
- Synodontis nigromaculatus Boulenger, 1905
- Synodontis njassae Keilhack, 1908
- Synodontis notatus Vaillant, 1893
- Synodontis nummifer Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis obesus Boulenger, 1898
- Synodontis ocellifer Boulenger, 1900
- Synodontis Omias Günther, 1864
- Synodontis orientalis Seegers, 2008
- Synodontis ornatipinnis Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis ornatissimus Gosse, 1982
- Synodontis ouemeensis Musschoot & Laleye, 2008
- Synodontis pardalis Boulenger, 1908
- Synodontis petricola Matthes, 1959
- Synodontis pleurops Boulenger, 1897
- Synodontis polli Gosse, 1982
- Synodontis polyodon Vaillant, 1895
- Synodontis polystigma Boulenger, 1915
- Synodontis pulcher Poll, 1971
- Synodontis punctifer Daget, 1965
- Synodontis punctulatus Günther, 1889
- Synodontis punu Vreven & Milondo, 2009
- Synodontis rebeli Holly, 1926
- Synodontis resupinatus Boulenger, 1904
- Synodontis ricardoae Seegers, 1996
- Synodontis robbianus Smith, 1875
- Synodontis robertsi Poll, 1974
- Synodontis ruandae Matthes, 1959
- Synodontis rufigiensis Bailey, 1968
- Synodontis rukwaensis Hilgendorf & Pappenheim, 1903
- Synodontis sound ( Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
- Synodontis schoutedeni David, 1936
- Synodontis serpentis Whitehead, 1962
- Synodontis serratus Rüppell, 1829
- Synodontis Smiti Boulenger, 1902
- Synodontis Solon Boulenger, 1899
- Synodontis sorex Günther, 1864
- Synodontis steindachneri Boulenger, 1913
- Synodontis tanganyicae Borodin, 1936
- Synodontis tessmanni Pappenheim, 1911
- Synodontis thamalakanensis Fowler, 1935
- Synodontis thysi Poll, 1971
- Synodontis tourei Daget, 1962
- Synodontis unicolor Boulenger, 1915
- Synodontis vaillanti Boulenger, 1897 [ species inquirenda ]
- Synodontis vanderwaali Skelton & White, 1990
- Synodontis velifer Norman, 1935
- Synodontis vermiculatus Daget, 1954
- Synodontis victoriae Boulenger, 1906
- Synodontis violaceus Pellegrin, 1919
- Synodontis voltae novel, 1975
- Synodontis waterloti Daget, 1962
- Synodontis woosnami Boulenger, 1911
- Synodontis xiphias Günther, 1864
- Synodontis zambezensis Peters, 1852
- Synodontis zanzibaricus Peters, 1868