Synodontis bastiani Daget, 1948
photo by Mody, K.

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  22.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 197.0 g
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater, potamodromous
Distribution:  Africa: Sassandra, Boubo, Bandama, Angébi, Mé, Comoé Bia and Tano rivers in Côte d'Ivoire (Ref. 272, 57223, 83625), Burkina Faso (Ref. 57223) and Ghana (Ref. 30488).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; eye not more than 20% of head length, and 26% of head width; in adults, post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels usually longer than head (except in young individuals), unbranched, without tubercles but with a broad, black basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with rather long, tuberculate ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels shorter and strongly globose; mandibular teeth long, numbering 27-38 (33 in the holotype); dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; denticulations of pectoral-fin spines finer on outer than on inner margin; humeral process not keeled ventrally, triangular, slender and pointed in young specimens, and deep, more strongly arched, and more blunt posteriorly in adults; dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines prolonged into a black filament; adipose fin not very well developed; head more flattened in young than in adults; outer margins of caudal-fin lobes black-edged; body covered with fine specks (Ref. 57223). Coloration: body rather pale and covered with fine black specks and with larger spots in young individuals; rayed fins light and often spotless, but adipose fin always spotted; outer margins of caudal-fin lobes black-edged; broad black spot above humeral process (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Maximum TL was recorded at 28.1 cm (Ref. 7362, 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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