Synodontis batesii Boulenger, 1907
photo by JJPhoto

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  11.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: middle Congo River basin (Ref. 78218, 82238, 106245) in Democratic Republic of the Congo, rivers Dja, Nyong (Ref. 51193, 78218, 82238), upper Ivindo (OgoouĂ© basin)(Ref. 81251) and Ntem (Ref. 51193, 81251) in Cameroon, Mbini/Woleu, Ivindo, Ogowe and Ouzibi in Gabon and Muni River in Equatorial Guinea (Ref. 81251).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): -1; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: eye 18.0-21.0% HL; body with 2 large clear transverse bands; 26-44 mandibular teeth; dorsal spine fully serrated along entire anterior edge (Ref. 81251). Description: maxillary barbels without basal membrane, reaching to half of pectoral spine; mandibular barbels ramified, sometimes tuberculate, lateral pair more or less twice as long as medial pair; snout obtuse; lips moderately developed; premaxillary teeth forming a short but wide band; 26 to 44 movable mandibular teeth; humeral process longer than wide and granulate above, striated below, acutely pointed and extending as far back or a little farther back than nuchal plates; dorsal spine striated, strongly serrated along anterior edge but not along posterior edge; adipose fin 3-4 times longer than deep and 2-3 times longer than its distance from first dorsal fin; anal fin pointed; pectoral spines strongly serrated along both edges; pelvic fin reaching, or nearly reaching, anal fin; caudal fin deeply notched; caudal peduncle as long as deep (Ref. 81251). Coloration: blotched and marbled brownish body with 3 large irregular dark transverse bands: 1st below dorsal, 2nd below adipose and 3rd in front of caudal fin; fins pale brownish or whitish, with black spots (Ref. 81251).
Biology:  Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum reported total length 126mm (Ref. 3202).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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