Synodontis velifer Norman, 1935
Synodontis velifer
photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  18.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: Sassandra and Bandama basins in Côte d'Ivoire (Ref. 272, 57223), Pra in Ghana, Volta basin in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo (Ref. 57223). Also reported from the middle Niger in Nigeria (map in Ref. 57223), but this may need verification.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; eye at most 23% of head length and 46% of snout length; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels unbranched, longer than head, without tubercles and bordered by a distinct basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with many thick and short ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels subdivided and tuberculate; mandibular teeth moderately developed, numbering 37-43 (37 in the holotype); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines weaker on outer than on inner margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; humeral process triangular and keeled ventrally; adipose fin well developed and close to rayed dorsal fin; branched dorsal-fin rays, as well as dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines prolonged into filaments; spots present on body and fins (Ref. 57223). Coloration: body more or less dark brownish, covered, as the head and adipose fin, with large, rounded, black spots; other fins with smaller black spots; membranes of maxillary barbels black (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Maximum TL was recorded at 23.8 cm (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:  Known from the Sassandra and Bandama (Ref. 57223).


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