Lake Victoria squeaker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Victoria squeaker
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Mochokidae
Genus:	Synodontis
Species:	S. victoriae
Binomial name
Synodontis victoriae Boulenger, 1906
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The Lake Victoria squeaker (scientific name: Synodontis victoriae) is a special type of catfish. It's sometimes called an "upside-down catfish"! This fish lives in parts of Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda. You can find it in big lakes like Kioga and Victoria. It also lives in rivers like the Victorian Nile, the lower Kagera River, and the Malagarasi River.

A scientist named George Albert Boulenger first described this fish in 1906. He found it in Lake Victoria, near places called Buganga and Entebbe in Uganda. The name victoriae comes from Lake Victoria, where it was first discovered.

What the Lake Victoria Squeaker Looks Like

Like other Synodontis fish, the Lake Victoria squeaker has a strong, bony head. This bony part goes all the way back to its first fin on its back. It also has a special bony bump on its shoulder area called a humeral process. The shape of this bump helps scientists tell different Synodontis species apart. For the Lake Victoria squeaker, this bump is rough and pointed.

Whiskers and Fins

This fish has three pairs of whiskers, called barbels. One pair is on its upper jaw, and two pairs are on its lower jaw. The upper jaw whiskers are long and straight. They can be almost as long as the fish's head! The outer pair of lower jaw whiskers is twice as long as the inner pair. All these whiskers have small, simple branches.

The fins on the back (dorsal fin) and sides (pectoral fins) of Synodontis fish have stiff, bony spines. The spine on the dorsal fin of the Lake Victoria squeaker is a bit shorter than its head. It is smooth on the front and has small teeth on the back. The rest of this fin has six to seven soft rays. The pectoral fin spine is about the same size and has teeth on both sides.

The fish also has a fatty fin (adipose fin) that is long and thin. Its anal fin has four unbranched and eight branched rays. The tail fin is deeply split, like a fork, with the top part being longer.

Teeth and Color

The Lake Victoria squeaker has a special pad of teeth on its upper jaw. These teeth are short and shaped like chisels. On its lower jaw, the teeth are hooked and attached to flexible stalks. Scientists count these lower jaw teeth to identify the species. This fish usually has 19 to 21 teeth on its lower jaw.

The body of the Lake Victoria squeaker is brown or grayish-silver on top. Its belly is white. It has large, dark, round spots on its body, which can sometimes be hard to see. You might even see spots on its tail fin.

This fish can grow up to about 35 centimeters (14 inches) long. Female Synodontis fish are usually a little bigger than males of the same age.

Habitat and Life Cycle

The Lake Victoria squeaker lives in Lake Victoria and the rivers that flow into it. This includes smaller streams and lakes. It has also been found in the Malagarasi River. These fish prefer shallow waters in lakes and rivers, usually around 20 meters (65 feet) deep.

Reproduction

We don't know much about how most Synodontis species reproduce. However, we do know that the Lake Victoria squeaker likely lays its eggs during the rainy season. This usually happens between July and October. During this time, pairs of fish swim together to spawn.

Diet and Challenges

The Lake Victoria squeaker eats small snails. It's clever enough to get the snail's soft body out without crushing the shell! It also eats insects, small fish, and tiny crustaceans called ostracods. These fish grow quickly in their first year, then their growth slows down as they get older.

Sadly, the number of Lake Victoria squeakers is going down. This is mainly because of competition from the Nile perch. The Nile perch is a much larger fish that was brought into their ecosystem and competes for food and space.