Synodontis is the largest genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of catfish

Catfish

Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...

es (order

Order (biology)

In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...

 Siluriformes) of the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Mochokidae

Mochokidae

The Mochokidae are a family of catfishes that are known as the squeakers and upside-down catfish. There are 10 genera and about 188 species of mochokids. All the mochokids are freshwater species originating from Africa....

. Synodontis are also known as squeakers, due to their ability to make stridulatory

Stridulation

Stridulation is the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts. This behavior is mostly associated with insects, but other animals are known to do this as well, such as a number of species of fishes, snakes and spiders...

 sounds through their pectoral fin spines when handled or disturbed. These catfish are small- to medium-sized fish., with many species exhibiting attractive spotted markings. Some species are also known for naturally swimming belly-up, earning the name upside-down catfish

Upside-down catfish

Upside-down catfish, Synodontis nigriventris, is a species of catfish. It is particularly noteworthy because of its habit of swimming upside down most of the time. Upside-down catfish originate from the Central Congo basin of Africa....

.

Distribution

Synodontis is the most widely distributed mochokid genus, occurring throughout most of the freshwaters of sub-Sahara

Sahara

The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...

n Africa and the Nile River system. Their distribution is similar to that of cichlid

Cichlid

Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...

 fishes, however, unlike cichlids the majority of their diversity occurs in rivers not lakes.

Evolutionary history

Synodontis catfish form a small endemic radiation in Lake Tanganyika (Day & Wilkinson, 2006; Koblmüller et al. 2006; Day et al. 2009), which includes the non-endemic species S. victoriae. This radiation is thought to have evolved relatively recently (~5.5. Million years ago), having diversified within full lacustrine conditions (Day & Wilkinson, 2006; Day et al. 2009). This is also the case for other endemic Lake Tanganyika lineages such as mastacemblid eels (Brown et al. 2010) and platythelphusid crabs (Marijnissen et al. 2006) for example. Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis have also been shown to be Müllerian mimics (Wright 2011), and that at least one species (Synodontis multipunctata) is a brood parasite (Sato, 1986).

Fossil record

The earliest fossils of Synodontis in East African are from the Early Miocene

Miocene

The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...

Ecology

Synodontis species are omnivorous

Omnivore

Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...

 generalists, feeding on a wide spectrum of different foods and are largely unspecialized. They are bottom-feeders and may be detrivores, some species may also be able to adapt to filter feeding

Filter feeder

Filter feeders are animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. Some animals that use this method of feeding are clams, krill, sponges, baleen whales, and many fish and some sharks. Some birds,...

. This allows them to cope with seasonal and habitat changes and gives them a better ability to colonize different habitats. Species of Synodontis have been noted to reproduce with the flooding period of the rainy season.

Relationship to humans

Many Synodontis species are prized ornamental fish in the fishkeeping

Fishkeeping

Fishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture.-Types of fishkeeping systems:...

 hobby

Hobby

A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...

.

Species

Synodontis includes about 120 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

. Synodontis accounts for about one-quarter of African catfish species. This genus has more members than any other Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

n teleost genus other than Barbus

Barbus

Barbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species of Barbus is the Common Barbel, first described as Cyprinus barbus and now named Barbus barbus...

 and Haplochromis

Haplochromis

Haplochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae. It has been used as the default "wastebin taxon" for Pseudocrenilabrinae cichlids of the East African Rift, and as such became the "largest" fish "genus"...

.

The species list below is according to Ferraris, 2007; a number of species have been changed to fit the feminine gender

Grammatical gender

Grammatical gender is defined linguistically as a system of classes of nouns which trigger specific types of inflections in associated words, such as adjectives, verbs and others. For a system of noun classes to be a gender system, every noun must belong to one of the classes and there should be...

 of the genus. Newer species are listed with references.

S. acanthomias Synodontis acanthomias Synodontis acanthomias is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger George Albert Boulenger George Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:... , 1899 S. acanthoperca Synodontis acanthoperca Synodontis acanthoperca is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Friel & Vigliotta, 2006 S. afrofischeri Hilgendorf, 1888 S. alberti Synodontis alberti Synodontis alberti is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Schilthuis, 1891 S. albolineata Synodontis albolineata Synodontis albolineata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin Jacques Pellegrin Jacques Pellegrin was a French zoologist.Pellegrin was born in Paris, and studied natural history. In 1894 he became assistant chairman of zoology at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, replacing Léon Vaillant .He got his doctorates in medicine and science... , 1924 S. angelica Synodontis angelica Synodontis angelica is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae, commonly named Polka-dot African catfish or Angel squeaker.It comes from Zaire and Cameroon.- In the aquarium :...  Schilthuis, 1891 S. annectens Synodontis annectens Synodontis annectens is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1911 S. ansorgii Synodontis ansorgii Synodontis ansorgii is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1911 S. arnoulti Synodontis arnoulti Synodontis arnoulti is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Roman, 1966 S. aterrima Synodontis aterrima Synodontis aterrima is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll & Roberts, 1968 S. bastiani Synodontis bastiani Synodontis bastiani is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget, 1948 S. batesii Synodontis batesii Synodontis batesii is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1907 S. brichardi Synodontis brichardi Synodontis brichardi is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1959 S. budgetti Synodontis budgetti Synodontis budgetti is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1911 S. camelopardalis Synodontis camelopardalis Synodontis camelopardalis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. caudalis Synodontis caudalis Synodontis caudalis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1899 S. caudovittata Synodontis caudovittata Synodontis caudovittata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1901 S. centralis Synodontis centralis Synodontis centralis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. clarias Synodontis clarias Synodontis clarias is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  (Linnaeus, 1758) S. comoensis Synodontis comoensis Synodontis comoensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget & Lévêque, 1981 S. congica Synodontis congica Synodontis congica is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. contracta Synodontis contracta Synodontis contracta is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Vinciguerra, 1928 S. courteti Synodontis courteti Synodontis courteti is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin, 1906 S. cuangoana Synodontis cuangoana Synodontis cuangoana is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. decora Synodontis decora Synodontis decora is a species of fish in the family Mochokidae of the order Siluriformes. Common names include Clown catfish, Clown Syno, Clown Squeaker, and Barredtail Squeaker. This gentle giant can be a great addition to any aquarium....  Boulenger, 1899 S. dekimpei Synodontis dekimpei Synodontis dekimpei is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Paugy, 1987 S. depauwi Synodontis depauwi Synodontis depauwi is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1899 S. dhonto Synodontis dhonti Synodontis dhonti is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:...  Boulenger, 1917 S. dorsomaculata Synodontis dorsomaculata Synodontis dorsomaculata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. euptera Synodontis euptera Synodontis euptera is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1901 S. fascipinna Synodontis fascipinna Synodontis fascipinna is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Nichols & La Monte, 1953 S. filamentosa Synodontis filamentosa Synodontis filamentosa is a species of catfish of the family feces....  Boulenger, 1901 S. flavitaeniata Synodontis flavitaeniata Synodontis flavitaeniata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1919 S. frontosa Synodontis frontosa Synodontis frontosa is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Vaillant Léon Vaillant Léon Louis Vaillant was a French zoologist. He is most famous for his work in the areas of herpetology, malacology, and ichthyology... , 1895 S. fuelleborni Hilgendorf & Pappenheim, 1903 S. gambiensis Synodontis gambiensis Synodontis gambiensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther Albert C. L. G. Günther Albert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist.... , 1864 S. geledensis Synodontis geledensis Synodontis geledensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther, 1896 S. gobroni Synodontis gobroni Synodontis gobroni is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget, 1954 S. grandiops Synodontis grandiops Synodontis grandiops is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Wright & Page, 2006 S. granulosa Synodontis granulosa Synodontis granulosa is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1900

S. greshoffi Synodontis greshoffi Synodontis greshoffi is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Schilthuis, 1891 S. guttata Synodontis guttata Synodontis guttata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther, 1865 S. haugi Synodontis haugi Synodontis haugi is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin, 1906 S. ilebrevis Synodontis ilebrevis Synodontis ilebrevis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Wright & Page, 2006 S. iturii Synodontis iturii Synodontis iturii is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Steindachner Franz Steindachner Franz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess... , 1911 S. katangae Synodontis katangae Synodontis katangae is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. khartoumensis Synodontis khartoumensis Synodontis khartoumensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Abu Gideiri, 1967 S. koensis Synodontis koensis Synodontis koensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin, 1933 S. laessoei Synodontis laessoei Synodontis laessoei is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Norman, 1923 S. leoparda Synodontis leoparda Synodontis leoparda is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pfeffer Georg Johann Pfeffer Georg Johann Pfeffer was a German zoologist, primarily a malacologist, a scientist who studied mollusks.Pfeffer was born in Berlin. In 1887 he became curator of the Natural History Museum of Hamburg , which was established in 1843 and destroyed during World War II... , 1896 S. leopardina Synodontis leopardina Synodontis leopardina is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin, 1914 S. longirostris Synodontis longirostris Synodontis longirostris is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1902 S. longispinis Synodontis longispinis Synodontis longispinis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin, 1930 S. lucipinnis Synodontis lucipinnis Synodontis lucipinnis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Wright & Page, 2006 S. lufirae Synodontis lufirae Synodontis lufirae is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. macrophthalma Synodontis macrophthalma Synodontis macrophthalma is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. macrops Synodontis macrops Synodontis macrops is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is endemic to Uganda. Its natural habitat is rivers.-Source:* Twongo, T.K. 2005. . Downloaded on 5 August 2007....  Greenwood, 1963 S. macropunctata Synodontis macropunctata Synodontis macropunctata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Wright & Page, 2008 S. macrostigma Synodontis macrostigma Synodontis macrostigma is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1911 S. macrostoma Synodontis macrostoma Synodontis macrostoma is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Skelton & White, 1990 S. manni De Vos, 2001 S. marmorata Synodontis marmorata Synodontis marmorata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Lönnberg Einar Lönnberg Axel Johann Einar Lönnberg was a Swedish zoologist.Lönnberg was born in Stockholm. He was head of the Vertebrate Department of the Swedish Natural History Museum from 1904 to 1932.... , 1895 S. matthesi Synodontis matthesi Synodontis matthesi is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is rivers.-References:* Hanssens, M. 2005. . Downloaded on 5 August 2007....  Poll, 1971 S. melanoptera Synodontis melanoptera Synodontis melanoptera is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1903 S. multimaculata Synodontis multimaculata Synodontis multimaculata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1902 S. multipunctata Boulenger, 1898 S. nebulosa Synodontis nebulosa Synodontis nebulosa is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Peters Wilhelm Peters Wilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters was a German naturalist and explorer.He was assistant to Johannes Peter Müller and later curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. In September 1842 he travelled to Mozambique via Angola. He returned to Berlin with an enormous collection of natural history specimens... , 1852 S. nigrita Synodontis nigrita Synodontis nigrita is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is found in Uganda and possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:* Twongo, T.K. 2005. . Downloaded on 5 August 2007....  Valenciennes Achille Valenciennes Achille Valenciennes was a French zoologist.Valenciennes was born in Paris, and studied under Georges Cuvier. Valenciennes' study of parasitic worms in humans made an important contribution to the study of parasitology... , 1840 S. nigriventris David, 1936 S. nigromaculata Synodontis nigromaculata Synodontis nigromaculata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1905 S. njassae Keilhack, 1908 S. notata Synodontis notata Synodontis notata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Vaillant, 1893 S. nummifer Synodontis nummifer Synodontis nummifer is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1899 S. obesus Synodontis obesus Synodontis obesus is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1898 S. ocellifer Synodontis ocellifer Synodontis ocellifer is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1900 S. omias Synodontis omias Synodontis omias is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther, 1864 S. ornatipinnis Synodontis ornatipinnis Synodontis ornatipinnis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1899 S. onratissima Synodontis ornatissima Synodontis onratissima is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Gosse, 1982 S. pardalis Synodontis pardalis Synodontis pardalis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1908 S. petricola Synodontis petricola Synodontis petricola is a catfish from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is sometimes kept as an aquarium fish. It is mostly nocturnal....  Matthes, 1959 S. pleurops Synodontis pleurops Synodontis pleurops is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1897

S. polli Synodontis polli Synodontis polli is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.-References:...  Gosse, 1982 S. polyodon Synodontis polyodon Synodontis polyodon is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Vaillant, 1895 S. polystigma Synodontis polystigma Synodontis polystigma is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1915 S. pulcher Synodontis pulcher Synodontis pulcher is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. punctifer Synodontis punctifer Synodontis punctifer is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget, 1965 S. punctulata Synodontis punctulata Synodontis punctulata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther, 1889 S. rebeli Synodontis rebeli Synodontis rebeli is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Holly, 1926 S. resupinata Synodontis resupinata Synodontis resupinata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1904 S. ricardoae Seegers, 1996 S. robbianus Synodontis robbianus Synodontis robbianus is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Smith, 1875 S. robertsi Synodontis robertsi Synodontis robertsi is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae. the synodontis robertsi is of relatively small size but has large eyes...  Poll, 1974 S. ruandae Synodontis ruandae Synodontis ruandae is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is endemic to Rwanda. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Ntakimaza, G. 2005. . Downloaded on 5 August 2007....  Matthes, 1959 S. rufigiensis Synodontis rufigiensis Synodontis rufigiensis is a species of fish in the Mochokidae family. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is rivers.-References:* Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. 2005. . Downloaded on 5 August 2007....  Bailey, 1968 S. rukwaensis Hilgendorf & Pappenheim, 1903 S. schall Synodontis schall Synodontis schall is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  (Bloch Marcus Elieser Bloch Marcus Elieser Bloch was a German medical doctor and naturalist. He is generally considered one of the most important ichthyologists of the 18th century.- Life :...  & Schneider, 1801) S. schoutedeni Synodontis schoutedeni Synodontis schoutedeni is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  David, 1936 S. serpentis Synodontis serpentis Synodontis serpentis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Whitehead, 1962 S. serrata Synodontis serrata Synodontis serrata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Rüppell, 1829 S. smiti Synodontis smiti Synodontis smiti is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1902 S. soloni Synodontis soloni Synodontis soloni is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1899 S. sorex Synodontis sorex Synodontis sorex is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther, 1864 S. steindachneri Synodontis steindachneri Synodontis steindachneri is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1913 S. tanganaicae Synodontis tanganaicae Synodontis tanganaicae is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Borodin, 1936 S. tessmanni Synodontis tessmanni Synodontis tessmanni is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pappenheim, 1911 S. thamalakanensis Synodontis thamalakanensis Synodontis thamalakanensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Fowler Henry Weed Fowler Henry Weed Fowler was an American zoologist born in Holmesburg, Pennsylvania.He studied at Stanford University under David Starr Jordan... , 1935 S. thysi Synodontis thysi Synodontis thysi is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Poll, 1971 S. tourei Synodontis tourei Synodontis tourei is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget, 1962 S. unicolor Synodontis unicolor Synodontis unicolor is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1915 S. vanderwaali Synodontis vanderwaali Synodontis vanderwaali is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Skelton & White, 1990 S. velifer Synodontis velifer Synodontis velifer is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Norman, 1935 S. vermiculata Synodontis vermiculata Synodontis vermiculata is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget, 1954 S. victoriae Boulenger, 1906 S. violacea Synodontis violacea Synodontis violacea is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Pellegrin, 1919 S. voltae Synodontis voltae Synodontis voltae is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Roman, 1975 S. waterloti Synodontis waterloti Synodontis waterloti is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Daget, 1962 S. woosnami Synodontis woosnami Synodontis woosnami is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Boulenger, 1911 S. xiphias Synodontis xiphias Synodontis xiphias is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Günther, 1864 S. zambezensis Synodontis zambezensis Synodontis zambezensis is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae....  Peters, 1852 S. zanzibarica Synodontis zanzibarica Synodontis zanzibarica is a species of catfish of the family Mochokidae.... Peters, 1868