Synodontis ruandae is a species of upside-down catfish native to Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania where it is found in the Kagera River system.[2] It was first described by Belgian ichthyologist Hubert Matthes in 1959, based upon holotypes discovered in the Kagera River at Rusumo, Rwanda.[3] The specific name "ruandae" is derived from its type locality, Rwanda.
| Synodontis ruandae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Mochokidae |
| Genus: | Synodontis |
| Species: | S. ruandae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Synodontis ruandae Matthes, 1959
| |
Description
editLike other members of the genus, this fish has a humeral process, which is a bony spike that is attached to a hardened head cap on the fish and can be seen extending beyond the gill opening.[3] The first ray of the dorsal fin and the pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated.[3] The caudal fin is deeply forked.[3] It has short, cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw.[3] In the lower jaw, the teeth are s-shaped and movable.[3] The fish has one pair of long maxillary barbels, extending far beyond the operculum, and two pairs of mandibular barbels that are often branched.[3]
This species grows to a length of 12.8 centimetres (5.0 in) SL although specimens up to 16.2 centimetres (6.4 in) TL have been recorded in the wild.[2][3]
Habitat
editIn the wild, the species inhabits tropical freshwaters.[2] It is found in shallow waters and vegetation along the edge of the water in the middle and upper Kagera River system.[4] It feeds primarily on insect larvae, and also consumes molluscs.[2][4] Due to a decline in vegetation around the edges of lakes and rivers as a result of agricultural expansion, the species is listed as vulnerable.[4]
References
edit- ^ FishBase team RMCA.; Geelhand, D. (2016). "Synodontis ruandae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T60820A47216994. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T60820A47216994.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Synodontis ruandae". FishBase. June 2016 version.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Synodontis ruandae Matthes, 1959". Planet Catfish. 3 Feb 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ a b c Moelants, T. (2010). "Synodontis notatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T182728A7952843. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T182728A7952843.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
External links
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Data related to Synodontis ruandae at Wikispecies