Synodontis longirostris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis longirostris |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Synodontis
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| Species: |
longirostris
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The Synodontis longirostris, also called the eyespot synodontis, is a special kind of upside-down catfish. It lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a big river system called the Congo Basin.
A scientist named George Albert Boulenger first described this fish in 1902. He found it in the Ubangi River. The name longirostris comes from Latin words. Longus means "long," and rostrum means "snout." This name describes the fish's long snout.
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What Does the Eyespot Synodontis Look Like?
Like other Synodontis fish, the eyespot synodontis has a strong, bony head. This bony part goes all the way back to its first fin on its back.
Special Head Features
Its head has a unique bony bump called a humeral process. This bump helps scientists tell different Synodontis species apart. For the eyespot synodontis, this bump feels rough. It is also much longer than it is wide and has a pointed end.
Its Whiskers (Barbels)
This fish has three pairs of barbels, which are like whiskers. One pair is on its upper jaw. Two pairs are on its lower jaw. The upper jaw barbels are straight and about half as long as its head. They do not have branches. The outer barbels on the lower jaw are almost twice as long as the inner ones. They have small branches.
Fins and Spines
The front edges of the fins on its back (dorsal fin) and sides (pectoral fins) are hard spines. The dorsal fin spine is about two-thirds the length of its head. It is slightly curved and smooth on the front. The back of this spine is rough. The rest of the dorsal fin has seven soft rays.
The pectoral fin spine is a bit longer than the dorsal spine. It is rough on both sides. The small, fleshy fin near its tail, called the adipose fin, is three times longer than it is deep. The anal fin, which is on its belly, has four unbranched and six branched rays. It looks somewhat pointed at the front. Its tail fin is deeply split, like a "V" shape.
Teeth and Mouth
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 the eyespot synodontis, this toothpad is short and wide.
On its lower jaw, the teeth are attached to flexible stalks. They look like "S" shapes or hooks. The number of teeth helps identify the species. The eyespot synodontis has about 24 teeth on its lower jaw.
Color and Size
The body of this fish is olive-brown. It has large, round black spots arranged in three rows along its body.
The eyespot synodontis can grow up to 66 centimeters (about 26 inches) long. Female Synodontis fish are usually a bit bigger than males of the same age.
Where Does It Live and What Does It Do?
The eyespot synodontis lives all over the Congo River basin. However, it is not found in the rivers that flow into the Congo from the south. People sometimes catch these fish to keep them in aquariums.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists do not know much about how most Synodontis fish have babies. We know that female fish can carry many eggs. They probably lay their eggs during the rainy season, which is from July to October. When they lay eggs, pairs of fish might swim together. Young fish grow very quickly in their first year. After that, their growth slows down as they get older.
