Synodontis notatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis notatus |
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Synodontis
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| Species: |
notatus
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The Synodontis notatus, also known as the onespot squeaker or domino syno, is a special type of upside-down catfish. It lives in the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. A French scientist named Léon Vaillant first described this fish in 1893. Its name, "notatus", comes from a Latin word meaning "marked," which refers to its spot.
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What Does the Onespot Squeaker Look Like?
This fish usually has a grey-brown or olive color on its back. Its belly is a lighter color. Most of these fish have one dark spot. However, some might have many spots, or even no spots at all. The number of spots can even be different on each side of the fish! These spots do not get bigger as the fish grows. This means the spots look smaller on adult fish.
Special Features of the Onespot Squeaker
Like other fish in its family, the onespot squeaker has a special bony spike. This spike is called a humeral process. It is connected to a hard cap on the fish's head. You can see it sticking out past the gill opening. The first ray of its dorsal fin (the fin on its back) and its pectoral fins (fins near its gills) are hard and have jagged edges. Its tail fin is deeply forked, like a "V" shape.
This fish has two types of teeth. The teeth in its upper jaw are short and cone-shaped. The teeth in its lower jaw are S-shaped and can move. It also has long whiskers, called barbels. One pair of these whiskers is very long. It reaches far past its gill opening. It has two other pairs of whiskers that are often branched. The fish also has a small, fatty fin called an adipose fin. This fin is located far back on its body.
How Big Do They Get?
The onespot squeaker can grow up to about 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. Some fish found in the wild have been even longer, up to 26.5 centimeters (about 10.4 inches).
Where Does the Onespot Squeaker Live?
In the wild, these fish live in warm, tropical waters. The water temperature is usually between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius (72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit). The water is also slightly acidic to neutral. It has been found all over the Congo River basin. You can also find it in parts of the Kasai River, Lufira River, and Luapula River systems.
