Synodontis congicus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis congicus |
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The Synodontis congicus is a special type of catfish that often swims upside down! It lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in Africa. You can find it in the upper and middle parts of the Congo Basin. A scientist named Max Poll first described this fish in 1971. The name "congicus" means "From the Congo," which makes sense since that's where it lives!
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About the Congo Catfish
This fish is usually light grey or silver. It has one to four spots along the middle of its body.
Physical Features
Like other Synodontis catfish, this fish has a special bony spike. It's called a humeral process. This spike is connected to a hard cap on its head. You can see it sticking out past its gill opening.
The first part of its top fin (dorsal fin) is hard. Its side fins (pectoral fins) also have a hard, saw-like first part. The tail fin is deeply split, like a fork. It also has a longer part on its top lobe.
Teeth and Whiskers
The Synodontis congicus has two kinds of teeth. Its upper jaw has short, cone-shaped teeth. Its lower jaw has S-shaped teeth that can move.
It also has three pairs of whiskers, called barbels. One pair is short and near its mouth (maxillary barbels). The other two pairs are under its chin (mandibular barbels). These are often branched, looking a bit like tiny trees.
Size of the Fish
This catfish can grow to about 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Some have even been found to be over 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long in the wild!
Where It Lives
The Synodontis congicus lives in warm, tropical waters. The water temperature is usually between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius (72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). The water's pH level is between 6.2 and 7.2.
You can find this fish in the Kinsuka rapids. These are in the lower Congo basin. It also lives further upstream in the upper Congo basin. However, it does not live in the Luapula River or Lake Mweru.
