Synodontis budgetti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis budgetti |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Synodontis
|
| Species: |
budgetti
|
The Synodontis budgetti, also known as Budgett's synodontis, is a special type of upside-down catfish. It lives in rivers and lakes in countries like Benin, Cameroon, and Nigeria. This fish was first found and described by a scientist named George Albert Boulenger in 1911. Its name, budgetti, comes from J.S. Budgett, the person who collected the first fish specimen.
Contents
What Does Budgett's Synodontis Look Like?
Like other Synodontis fish, Budgett's synodontis has a strong, bony head. This head bone goes all the way back to its first dorsal fin spine. It also has a unique bony bump on its shoulder area. This bump is called a humeral process. Its shape helps scientists tell different Synodontis species apart. For Budgett's synodontis, this bump is about one and a half times longer than it is wide. It also has three small spines pointing backward.
Whiskers and Fins
This fish has three pairs of barbels, which are like whiskers. One pair is on its upper jaw, and two pairs are on its lower jaw. The upper jaw barbels are straight and have a wide base. They are about one-third the length of the fish's head. The outer pair of lower jaw barbels is about twice as long as the inner pair.
The front edges of the dorsal fin (on its back) and the pectoral fins (on its sides) are stiff spines. The dorsal fin spine is long and slightly curved. It's about as long as the fish's head. This spine is smooth on the front but has a saw-like edge on the back. The rest of the dorsal fin has seven soft rays. The pectoral fin spine is about the same length as the dorsal fin spine. It has saw-like edges on both sides.
The adipose fin is a small, fleshy fin without rays. It is three times longer than it is deep. The anal fin, located on the underside, has five unbranched and seven branched rays. The tail, or caudal fin, is deeply forked. Both parts of the tail end in a long, thin filament.
Teeth and Color
All Synodontis fish have a special pad of teeth on the front of their upper jaw. This is called a premaxillary toothpad. It has several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. In Budgett's synodontis, this toothpad is short and wide. On its lower jaw, the teeth are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures. They are described as "s-shaped" or "hooked." Scientists count these teeth to tell species apart. Budgett's synodontis has about 55 teeth on its lower jaw.
The body of this fish is a uniform brownish color.
Size
Budgett's synodontis can grow up to about 39.5 centimeters (about 15.5 inches) long. Females in the Synodontis family are usually a bit larger than males of the same age.
Habitat and Life Cycle
In the wild, Budgett's synodontis lives in the Niger River basin. This includes the Niger River itself and places like Lake Nokoue.
Scientists don't know much about how most Synodontis species reproduce. They have found eggs in some female fish, which tells them a little. It's thought that these fish lay their eggs during the flooding season. This usually happens between July and October. During spawning, pairs of fish likely swim together.
Synodontis fish are generally omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes insect larvae, algae, snails, clams, sponges, and small crustaceans. They also eat the eggs of other fish.
These fish grow quickly during their first year of life. After that, their growth rate slows down as they get older.
