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Synodontis xiphias Günther, 1864

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Synodontis xiphias
Picture by Günther, A.C.L.G.

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: Synodontis: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: known only from the lower Niger (Ref. 57223).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 67.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57223)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at most 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels unbranched, not fringed or very slightly fringed at base, shorter than head, without tubercles or basilar membrane; mandibular barbels with a long simple and relatively thin ramifications; mandibular teeth numbering 10-16; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly, pectoral-fin spines weakly denticulate; humeral process triangular and rather pointed posteriorly, its upper margin concave; adipose fin poorly developed, distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin; colour uniform, sometimes with very fine punctuations (Ref. 57223). Coloration: uniformly brownish, with numerous small, rounded spots on sides and adipose fin (this colour corresponds to a stuffed specimen)(Ref. 57223).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum TL recorded was 800mm (Ref. 57223).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Paugy, D. and T.R. Roberts, 2003. Mochokidae. p. 195-268 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p. (Ref. 57223)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Critically Endangered (CR) (B2ab(iii)); Date assessed: 03 September 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items
Diet compositions
Food consumptions
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Ecology
Ecology
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Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
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Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GenBank: genome, nucleotide | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoobank | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00437 - 0.02882), b=2.97 (2.77 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  2.8   ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Moderate to high vulnerability (53 of 100).