Synodontis haugi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis haugi |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Synodontis
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| Species: |
haugi
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The Synodontis haugi, also known as the black synodontis, is a type of upside-down catfish. This fish lives in the freshwaters of Gabon, a country in Africa. You can find it mainly in the Ogowe River basin.
A person named M.E. Haug first collected this fish. Then, a French animal expert, Jacques Pellegrin, officially described it in 1906. He found the first example of this fish, called a holotype, in the Ogooué River near a place called Ngomo in Gabon. The name "haugi" was given to the fish to honor M.E. Haug, who first found it.
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What Does the Black Synodontis Look Like?
This fish usually has a brown body. Sometimes, it has faint darker spots on its body and fins. Young black synodontis fish might have bigger, dark brown spots on their sides.
Special Body Parts
Like other fish in its group, the black synodontis has a special bony spike. This spike is called a humeral process. It's connected to a hard cap on the fish's head. You can see it sticking out a little past its gill opening. This spike helps protect the fish.
The first fin on its back, called the dorsal fin, has a strong, hard ray. This ray has small teeth-like edges, making it slightly rough. It's about the same length as the fish's head. The fins on its sides, called pectoral fins, also have strong, rough spines. These spines are rough on both sides, especially the inside.
Mouth and Whiskers
The black synodontis has two types of teeth. Its upper jaw has short, cone-shaped teeth. Its lower jaw has S-shaped teeth that can move. This fish also has long whiskers, called barbels, around its mouth. It has one pair of very long whiskers that reach far past its gill cover. It also has two other pairs of whiskers that are often branched, like tiny tree branches.
Size of the Fish
This fish can grow to be about 25 centimeters (almost 10 inches) long. Some have even been found to be over 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long in the wild.
Where Does the Black Synodontis Live?
In its natural home, the black synodontis lives in warm, tropical waters. It is found in the Ogowe River basin in Gabon, Africa.
