Synodontis is by far the largest genus in the family Mochokidae and, indeed, one of the largest among all catfishes (about 120 species, a close second to Corydoras, about 150 species).
The phylogenetic hypothesis is based largely on the presence of well-developed nuchal plates and certain elaborations of the Weberian apparatus, including an elastic spring apparatus.
Placement of the Mochokidae will be greatly enhanced by a deeper understanding of the relationships within the family (previously unstudied).
Found exclusively in Africa, the Mochokidae family consists of 7 genera (depending on the taxonomic method used) and can be found in all water systems (Burgess, 1989, 182), ranging from the still lakes of Malawi and Tanganyika to the fast moving rivers of the Niger and Chobe.
Mochokidae represents a diverse group of catfish which differ greatly in both shape and size, from the small Mochokiella paynei of just 35mm to the relatively large Synodontis acanthomias which may attain 600mm.
The 7 genera of the Mochokidae family - Brachysynodontis, Synodontis, Mochokiella, Mochokus, Hemisynodontis, Acanthocleithron and Microsynodontis.
Stratégies alimentaires de Synodontis bastiani (Siluriformes : Mochokidae) dans le complexe fluvio-lacustre de la Bia, Côte d’Ivoire
The diet of 81 specimens (with 63 stomachs containing preys) of Synodontis bastiani from the Bia river (Ivory Coast) was examined in relation to the specimen size, the hydrological season and the site of study.
This study showed differences in diet in relation to the size of the specimens, the hydrological season and the site except in man-made lake where no statistically significant difference was observed between the diet composition and the hydrological season.
Squeaker catfishes (Pisces, Mochokidae, Synodontis) are widely distributed throughout Africa and inhabit a biogeographic range similar to that of the exceptionally diverse cichlid fishes, including the three East African Great Lakes and their surrounding rivers.
With about 190 species assigned to ten genera, the siluriform family Mochokidae is endemic to the African continent where these fishes inhabit freshwaters from small creeks to large streams and from small ponds to large lakes.
Secondly, of the nine non-cichlid families common to the three East African Great Lakes, the Mochokidae show the closest overlap in habitat in comparison to cichlids, in that they occur primarily in the littoral and sub-littoral zone [1,16].
Amazon.com: Mochokidae(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-26)
Systematic revision and description of new species of suckermouth catfishes (Chiloglanis, Mochokidae) from Cameroun (Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences) by Tyson R Roberts (Unknown Binding - 1989)
Catfishes of the Family Mochokidae Several genera comprise the catfish...
Some catfishes, particularly the Mochokidae and the Pimelodidae, are 'naked'...
There are two families of catfish with representatives native to Australia, the eel-tailed catfish (Plotosidae) and forktailed or shark catfish (Ariidae).
Bagrids are sometimes called naked catfish, due to their lack of scales (a common trait in catfish of other families as well!) Most bagrids are of medium size, cylindrical in shape, and with three pairs of short to mid-length barbels.
The Mochokidae are similar in appearance to Pimelodids, often having a tall body and long barbels.
How to take care of your fish pond(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-26)
The Cichlidae remained dominant inshore, while the Characidae and Schilbeidae dominated the pelagic zone and Bagridae and Mochokidae the bottom habitat of the lake.
The morphology and histology of the alimentary canal of Lates niloticus was typical of a predatory fish.
In the bottom catches the Bagridae and Mochokidae dominated respectively in 1976 and 1984.
Stunning new catfish described by CUMV researchers — Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-26)
The name "acanthoperca" is a combination of the Greek acanthi, which means thorn, and the Latin opercul, meaning cover or lid, and refers to the opercular spines that become highly developed in sexually mature males of this species.
Friel and Vigliotti say that the hypertrophied opercular spines in acanthoperca are one of the species' most distinctive features and are not only unique among Synodontis, but also previously unrecorded in other members of the Mochokidae family.
A large number of Synodontis species are popular with fishkeepers, both because of their attractive colour patterns and their tendency to swim upside down.
The Rift Valley lakes are primarily known for the extensive radiations of fish species in the family Cichlidae.
Endemic species of the Clariidae, Claroteidae, Mochokidae, Poecilidae, Mastacembelidae, Centropomidae, Cyprinidae, Clupeidae and other families are also found in these lakes.
A unique pelagic fish community has evolved in Lake Tanganyika including two endemic clupeids, Limnothrissa miodon and Stolothrissa tanganicae, that feed on zooplankton in the pelagic zone and, in turn, provide food for the four predatory centropomids, Lates angustifrons, L.
Habitats are modified from the system adopted by Lowe-McConnell (1975) based on the categories of Matthes (1964).
There are a wide variety of Siluriformes in rainforest rivers, the most characteristic and commercially important as food fish being members of the Bagridae and Mochokidae, particularly the genera Auchenoglanis, Parauchenoglanis and Synodontis.
These catfishes live in larger streams where they spend most of their time under heavy cover amongst submerged branches and tree roots under the banks, emerging at night to feed on benthic invertebrates.
John P. Friel, Ph.D. — Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-26)
This involves both field work to collect new specimens as well as detailed examinations of preserved specimens from museums around the world.
My speciality are catfishes of the families Aspredinidae (South American banjo catfishes), Mochokidae (African squeakers and suckermouth catfishes) and Amphiliidae (African loach catfishes and whiptail catfishes).
All of these groups contain new species that I am studying and formally describing.
