Mochokidae

Mochokidae
Mochokidae
Synodontis njassae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Mochokidae
Jordan, 1923
Genera

Acanthocleithron
Atopochilus
Brachysynodontis
Chiloglanis
Euchilichthys
Hemisynodontis
Microsynodontis
Mochokiella
Mochokus
Synodontis

The Mochokidae are a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes) that are known as the squeakers and upside-down catfish. There are 10 genera and about 188 species of mochokids.[1] All the mochokids are freshwater species originating from Africa.[2]

They have three pairs of barbels, with the nasal barbels absent; sometimes, the mandibular barbels may be branched.[2] The lips are be modified into a suckermouth in Atopochilus, Chiloglanis, and Euchilichthys.[2] The adipose fin is usually very long. The dorsal and pectoral fins have spines that are usually strong and with a locking mechanism.[2] They range in size up to 72 centimetres (28 in) SL.[2] This groups contains many popular species among aquarists, such as Synodontis nigriventris, Synodontis angelicus and Synodontis multipunctatus.

References

  1. ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-23. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7. OCLC 224053746. 

External links


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