Synodontis batesii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis batesii |
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| Conservation status | |
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Synodontis
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| Species: |
batesii
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Synodontis batesii is a cool type of catfish that often swims upside down! It lives in rivers in countries like Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon in Africa. A scientist named George Albert Boulenger first described this fish in 1907. He used fish collected by George Latimer Bates from the Dja River in Cameroon. The fish's name, "batesii", is a tribute to Mr. Bates who found it.
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About This Fish
This fish has a brown body. It often has darker brown blotches and swirly patterns. You might also see three wide, dark stripes on its sides. Its fins are light brown or whitish. They usually have small black spots.
Special Features
Like other fish in its group, Synodontis batesii has a special bony spike. This spike is called a humeral process. It is attached to a hard cap on the fish's head. You can see it sticking out past the gill opening. The first ray, or "spine," of its dorsal fin (the one on its back) is hard and has a saw-like edge. The same is true for the first spine of its pectoral fins (the ones on its sides).
Tail and Mouth
The tail fin of this fish is deeply forked, like a "V" shape. It has short, cone-shaped teeth in its upper jaw. In its lower jaw, the teeth are S-shaped and can move. The fish has one pair of long whiskers, called maxillary barbels. These whiskers reach about halfway down its side fins. It also has two pairs of smaller whiskers, called mandibular barbels. These are often branched, like tiny tree branches. The small fin on its back, called the adipose fin, is quite tiny.
How Big Do They Get?
This fish can grow to about 11.5 centimeters (about 4.5 inches) long. This measurement is called "standard length" (SL), which means from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail. Some fish have been found to be a bit longer, up to 12.6 centimeters (about 5 inches) in total length (TL), which includes the tail.
Where They Live
Synodontis batesii lives in warm, tropical waters. The water temperature is usually between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius (73 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit). The water's pH, which tells you how acidic or basic it is, is usually between 6.5 and 7.0. This means the water is slightly acidic to neutral.
River Homes
You can find this fish in the Dja River basin. It also lives in the central Congo River basin. It has been seen in the Nyong River and the Ntem River in Cameroon. It also lives in the Ivindo River and the Ogooué River in Gabon. You can also find it in the Río Muni area of Equatorial Guinea.
