Synodontis katangae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Synodontis katangae | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Mochokidae |
| Genus: | Synodontis |
| Species: | S. katangae |
| Binomial name | |
| Synodontis katangae Poll, 1971 | |
Synodontis katangae is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia where it is found in the Congo Basin.[2] It was first described by Max Poll in 1971. The original specimens were obtained in Lukonzolwa, on Lake Mweru, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[3] The species name katangae is a reference to the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the species was first found.[4]
Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. katangae has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin.[5] The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process.[3] The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw.[6] The adipose fin is large and the tail, or caudal fin, is forked.[3]
The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins are hardened into stiff spines. These spines can be raised into position at right angles to the body and locked into position for defensive purposes.[7][8] The ability to lock the spines into place comes from several small bones attached to the spine, and once raised, the spines cannot be folded down by exerting pressure on the tip.[8]
The fish has a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth. This structure contains several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked".[3][5]
The maximum total length of the species is 24 centimeters (9.4 in).[2] Generally, females in the genus Synodontis tend to be slightly larger than males of the same age.[9]
