Synodontis courteti Pellegrin, 1906
Synodontis courteti
photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  50 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.5 - 8; dH range: 12 - 25
Distribution:  Africa: Chad and Niger basins, including the Benue (Ref. 7362, 57223).
Diagnosis:  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 not fringed or very slightly fringed at base, shorter than head, unbranched and without tubercles or basal membrane; mandibular barbels with thin, simple and rather long ramifications; mandibular teeth short and few, numbering 13-17 (17 in holotype); dorsal-fin spine short and smooth anteriorly; denticulation of pectoral-fin spines finer on outer than on inner margin; humeral process narrow, triangular, pointed and slightly keeled ventrally; adipose fin normally developed and well separated from rayed dorsal fin; head broad, eyes small, in dorso-lateral position; colour pattern of large rounded spots on body and fins (Ref. 57223). Coloration: yellow-olivaceous, darker on back, lighter on belly; back, sides, rayed dorsal fin and adipose fin covered with big black spots which become lighter on belly and smaller on other fins; head covered with numerous, very close-set black points smaller than those on body (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Maximum SL was recorded at 450mm, maximum TL at 550mm (Ref. 7362, 57223). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 May 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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