Synodontis robbianus Smith, 1875
Synodontis robbianus
photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  10.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6 - 7.80000019073486; dH range: 10 - 25,
Distribution:  Africa: Niger delta (Ref. 57223), lower Niger and Cross River in Nigeria (Ref. 57223, 81251).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions (Ref. 57223). Post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length (Ref. 57223, 81251). Interorbital distance at most 86.6% of snout length; entire margin of opercle smooth (Ref. 81251). Maxillary barbels longer than head, unbranched, without tubercles and bordered by a short but distinct black basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with few short, simple and rather thin ramifications, branches of inner mandibular barbels also simple, short and few, but thicker and sometimes tuberculate (Ref. 57223, 81251). Mandibular teeth moderately developed (Ref. 57223), movable (Ref. 81251), numbering 20-27 (20 in the holotype)(Ref. 57223, 81251). Pectoral spines strongly serrated, with twice as many along anterior edge as posterior edge (Ref. 81251), denticulations finer and more dense on outer than on inner margin (Ref. 57223). Dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly (Ref. 57223, 81251), except for some apical denticles (Ref. 57223), few distal serrations on posterior edge (Ref. 81251). Humeral process about twice as long as deep, granulose, pointed and distinctly keeled ventrally (Ref. 57223, 81251). Adipose fin moderately developed and distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 57223). Adipose-fin base long (Ref. 57223), its length 4.2-11.3 times the distance between rayed dorsal- and adipose fin and 2.5 to 3.5 times longer than deep (Ref. 81251). Dorsal part of body and adipose spotted (Ref. 57223, 81251). Caudal fin spotted and without single dark patch at base of each fin lobe (Ref. 81251). Description: snout subconical; lips not poorly developed; anal fin pointed anteriorly; pelvic fin not reaching anal fin; caudal fin deeply forked, with upper lobes longer; caudal peduncle as long as deep (Ref. 81251). Coloration: dorsal regions brownish, darker than ventral parts; anal fin, as well as pectorals and pelvics, blackish; back and adipose fin covered with some large black spots; dorsal and caudal fins marked with some smaller black spots (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Maximum TL was recorded at 13.8 cm (Ref. 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 06 May 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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