Brachysynodontis batensoda

Taxobox
name = "Brachysynodontis batensoda"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
superclassis = Osteichthyes
classis = Actinopterygii
subclassis = Neopterygii
infraclassis = Teleostei
superordo = Ostariophysi
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Mochokidae
genus = "Brachysynodontis"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
species = "B. batensoda"
binomial = "Brachysynodontis batensoda"
binomial_authority = (Rüppell, 1832)
synonyms = "Synodontes ruppelli" Swainson, 1838

"Brachysynodontis batensoda" is the only species of catfish (order Siluriformes) in the genus "Brachysynodontis" of the family MochokidaeFerraris (2007)] . However, there has been debate as to whether or not this species actually belongs to the genus "Synodontis"PlanetCatfish (2006)] . This fish originates from the Nile, Chad, Niger, Senegal, and Gambia River basins..

"B. batensoda" has 39–42 gill rakers rather than 7–33 as in "Synodontis" species, and its dorsal fin and adipose fin are contiguous. The body is short and deep, the eyes are large, and its colouration is gray-black tinged with brown, with a faint network of dark black spots. There is a comb of small spines near the point of the operculum [Friel, John P. & Vigliotta (2006)] . The maxillary barbels have membranes, though these are not as wide as in "Hemisynodontis". Like "Synodontis" species, this fish almost always swims upside down. This fish may grow up to 50.0 centimetres TL and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb)FishBase (2007)] .

This omnivorous fish feeds on plankton, algae, detritus, surface insects, chironomid larvae, benthic crustaceans and mollusks. It is oviparous and venomous.

In the aquarium hobby, this fish may be known as the giant upside-down catfish; it is peaceful and hardy fish, but may be bullied by more aggressive "Synodontis" species.

Footnotes

References

*
* (2007): Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. "Zootaxa" 1418: 1–628. [http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (2006): "Synodontis acanthoperca", a new species from the Ogôoué River system, Gabon with comments on spiny ornamentation and sexual dimorphism in mochokid catfishes (Siluriformes: Mochokidae). "Zootaxa" 1125: 45–56. [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/zt01125p056.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (2006): [http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=780 "Brachysynodontis batensoda"] . Version of 2006-JUN-17. Retrieved 2007-AUG-02.