Synodontis

Taxobox
fossil_range = Early Miocene - Recent
name = "Synodontis"

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Synodontis njassae"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Mochokidae
genus = "Synodontis"
genus_authority = Cuvier, 1816
type_species = "Silurus clarias"
type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.
synonyms =
*"Leiosynodontis" Bleeker, 1862
*"Pseudosynodontis" Bleeker, 1862

"Synodontis" is the largest genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Mochokidae. "Synodontis" may be known as "squeakers" due to their ability to make stridulatory sounds through their pectoral fin spines when handled or disturbed. Some species are also known for naturally swimming belly-up, earning the name upside-down catfish.

Distribution

"Synodontis" is the most widely-distributed mochokid genus. "Synodontis" species occur throughout most of the freshwaters of sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile River system. "Synodontis" species are found throughout Africa, except in the southernmost parts and the Maghreb, although most species occur in Central and West Africa. Their distribution is similar to that of cichlids, including the African Great Lakes and surrounding rivers.cite journal|first=Stephan|last=Koblmüller|coauthors=Sturmbauer, Christian; Verheyen, Erik; Meyer, Axel; Salzburger, Walter|journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology|year=2006|volume=6|issue=49|pages=1–16
doi = 10.1186/1471-2148-6-49
unused_data = Mitochondrial phylogeny and phylogeography of East African squeaker catfishes (Siluriformes: "Synodontis")]

It has been found that East African "Synodontis" species form a monophyletic group derived than the Central and West African species. The East African clade includes six lineages: "S. zambensis"; "S. nigromaculata"; "S. victoriae" in Lake Victoria; "S. njassae" in Lake Malawi; "S. granulosa" and "S. multipunctata" in Lake Tanganyika; and "S. dhonti", "S. polli", and an undescribed species, also in Lake Tanganyika. "Synodontis" spread into East Africa prior to the formation of the African Great Lakes. The ancestral, colonizing species would have split into these six separate lineages within a relatively short period of time; later, these lineages may have diversified further.

Fossil record

The earliest fossils of "Synodontis" in East African are from the Early Miocene.

Description

These fish are small- to medium-sized fish.

Ecology

"Synodontis" species are omnivorous generalists, feeding on a wide spectrum of different foods and are largely unspecialized. They are bottom-feeders and may be detrivores, some species may also be able to adapt to filter feeding. This allows them to cope with seasonal and habitat changes and gives them a better ability to colonize different habitats. Species of "Synodontis" have been noted to reproduce with the flooding period of the rainy season.

Relationship to humans

Larger "Synodontis" species are important as seafood. Many "Synodontis" species are also prized ornamental fish in the fishkeeping hobby.

pecies

"Synodontis" includes about 120 species. "Synodontis" accounts for about one-quarter of African catfish species. This genus has more members than any other African teleost genus other than "Barbus" and "Haplochromis".cite journal|url=http://www.naturalsciences.be/institute/associations/rbzs_website/bjz/back/pdf/BJZ%20136(2)/Volume%20136(2),%20pp.%20193-201.pdf|title=Studies on the biology of two species of catfish "Synodontis schall" and "Synodontis nigrita" (Ostariophysi : Mochokidae) from the Ouémé River, Bénin|first=Philippe|last=Lalèyè|coauthors=Chikou, Antoine; Gnohossou, Pierre; Vandewalle, Pierre, Philippart, Jean Claude; Teugels, Guy|journal=Belg. J. Zool.|volume=136|issue=2|pages=193–201|date=July 2006|format=PDF]

The species list below is according to Ferraris, 2007; a number of species have been changed to fit the feminine gender of the genus.cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF] Newer species are listed with references.

References