Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes) > Mochokinae
Etymology: Microsynodontis: Greek, mikros = small + Greek, synodon = with the teeth growing all together (Ref. 45335); hirsuta: Species name from the Latin hirsutus, meaning hairy; in reference to the long tubercles on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head, which gives the species a somewhat hairy appearance of the head (Ref. 52369).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 5.0 - 5.0. Tropical
Africa: endemic to the Nye River (Ntem River basin) in northern Gabon (Ref. 52369, 81251).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52369)
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 36 - 37. Diagnosis: males with long (> 0.1 mm, up to 0.3 mm) tubercles on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head, females with comparatively longer (ca. 0.05 mm vs 0.02 mm) tubercles than congeners (Ref. 52369, 81251). Adipose fin very long, its base 34.6-37.9% SL; body without numerous dark brown elongate spots; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 7.1-7.8% SL (Ref. 81251). Anterior edge of pectoral spine with antrorse serrations; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 52369, 81251).
Found in a fast-flowing creek over a rock/pebble substrate (Ref. 52369).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Ng, H.H., 2004. The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species. Zootaxa 531:1-52. (Ref. 52369)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00644 - 0.03242), b=2.90 (2.71 - 3.09), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).