Synodontis vermiculatus Daget, 1954
photo by MNHN

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  50 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: Niger River, in Mopti region (Mali) and Lake Kainji (Nigeria) (Ref. 57223).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at most 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels broadly fringed, shorter than head, unbranched and without tubercles, but with a distinct narrow membrane basal half of their anterior margins; outer mandibular barbels with few, simple and rather short ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels more numerous, subdivided and globose; mandibular teeth strong and rather long, numbering 17-22; pectoral-fin spines finely denticulate, the serrations being stronger on inner than on outer margin; dorsal-fin spine anteriorly smooth; humeral process deep, triangular, granulose and not keeled ventrally; adipose fin very well developed and close to rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 57223). Coloration: after preservation, the coloration becomes entirely light beige, with numerous small, dark specks (Ref. 57223). Live specimens: entirely yellow, with a dense pattern of black specks covering body and adipose fin; other, more widely spaced specks on fins (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Maximum SL was recorded at 34.5 cm (Ref. 7362, 57223), maximum TL at 480mm (Ref. 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 September 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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