Synodontis pleurops facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Synodontis pleurops |
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Synodontis
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| Species: |
pleurops
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Synodontis pleurops, often called the Congo squeaker, is a special kind of catfish. It's known for swimming upside down! This fish lives in the upper parts of the Congo River basin. You can find it in countries like Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo. A scientist named George Albert Boulenger first described this fish in 1899. He found the first example near the Boyoma Falls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
About the Congo Squeaker
This fish has a brown body with a mottled, or spotted, pattern. Its belly is usually whitish. The edges of its tail fin, called the caudal fin, are brown. One of the most noticeable things about the Congo squeaker is its large head and big eyes. As these fish get older, their colors might become a bit lighter.
Like other fish in its group, the Congo squeaker has a bony spike. This spike is called a humeral process. It's attached to a hard cap on the fish's head. You can see it sticking out just past the gill opening.
Fins and Teeth
The first ray, or spine, of the dorsal fin (the fin on its back) is hard. The first ray of its pectoral fins (the fins on its sides) are also hard. These rays are smooth on the front but have a saw-like edge on the back. They are a little shorter than the fish's head.
The tail fin of the Congo squeaker is deeply forked, like a "V" shape. Its upper jaw has short, cone-shaped teeth. In the lower jaw, the teeth are S-shaped and can move.
This fish has long whiskers, called barbels. It has one pair of long barbels near its mouth, which extend far past its gill cover. It also has two pairs of barbels on its chin, which are often branched.
The small fin on its back, called the adipose fin, is about 2 to 3 times as long as it is deep. The anal fin, located on its underside near the tail, is pointed.
Size of the Fish
The Congo squeaker can grow to about 23 centimetres (9.1 in) long. This measurement is from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail. However, some larger fish have been found in the wild. These bigger ones can be up to 32.5 centimetres (12.8 in) long, including their tail.
Where the Congo Squeaker Lives
In the wild, the Congo squeaker lives in warm, tropical waters. The water temperature is usually between 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F). The water's pH level, which tells you how acidic or basic it is, is typically between 6.0 and 7.0. The water's hardness, measured in dH, can be up to 10.
You can find this fish throughout most of the Congo River basin. The only part of the basin where it hasn't been found is the Luapula River system.
