| Microsynodontis hirsuta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Mochokidae |
| Genus: | Microsynodontis |
| Species: | M. hirsuta |
| Binomial name | |
| Microsynodontis hirsuta Ng, 2004 | |
Microsynodontis hirsuta is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ntem River. [2] It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee. [3]
Before 2004, the genus Microsynodontis was believed to contain only four species, Microsynodontis batesii, M. christyi, M. lamberti, and M. polli. [3] However, when examining previously collected specimens from the lower Guinea region that had been identified as M. batesii, Dr. Ng discovered that the specimens actually consisted of nine distinct species, eight of them previously undescribed. [3] He published the descriptions of the new species in 2004. M. hirsuta is one of the new species that he described. Although the eight new species have been accepted by the scientific community, there is still some dispute among scientists as to whether the newly described species are actually separate species as the species are extremely difficult to tell apart. [1]
M. hirsuta is a small fish, reaching a maximum standard length of 6.8 centimeters (2.7 in). [2] The mouth of the fish faces downward, with broad lips containing papilla. [4] The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw. [5] The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins are hardened into stiff spines that can be locked into place. [5] The body shape is cylindrical along its entire length. [4]
M. hirsuta can be distinguished from other members of the genus Microsynodontis by examining the dorsal spine, and the Tubercles on the head. The dorsal spine is straight, whereas all other species in the genus have gently curved spines. The tubercles on the head are larger than other species in the genus, with an average length of 0.3 millimeters (0.012 in), where other species in the genus of the same size have tubercles that average 0.05 millimeters (0.0020 in) in length. In addition, the adipose fin is longer than other members of the genus. [3]
The stream catfishes comprise the family Akysidae of catfishes.
Rhynchodoras is a small genus of thorny catfishes native to South America. Rhynchodoras is closely related to Rhinodoras and Orinocodoras.
Sisor is a genus of catfishes native to Asia.
Acrochordonichthys is a genus of catfishes of the family Akysidae. It includes ten species.
Synodontis membranaceus, known as the moustache catfish, is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to northern Africa. It was first described by French naturalist Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1809 as Pimelodus membranaceus, from specimens obtained in the Nile River. The species name membranaceus refers to membranes present on the barbels of the fish.
Synodontis nigrita, known as the false upside down catfish, is a species of upside-down catfish that occurs widely in northern Africa. It was first described by French zoologist Achille Valenciennes in 1840. The type specimen is in the Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle de Paris.
Microsynodontis is a genus of upside-down catfishes native to freshwater rivers in western Africa. The genus was originally described by British-Belgian zoologist George Albert Boulenger in 1903 based upon the type species Microsynodontis batesii. The name microsynodontis comes from the Greek word mikro, meaning small, and the Greek term synodon, meaning "with the teeth all growing together".
Microsynodontis armatus is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ivindo River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis emarginata is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ogowe River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis laevigata is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it is found in the Ivindo River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis nannoculus is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Equatorial Guinea where it occurs in the Kyé River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis nasutus is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ogowe River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis notata is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ogowe River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis vigilis is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ogowe River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Synodontis batesii is a species of upside-down catfish native to rivers of Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It was first collected by G. L. Bates and described by Belgian-British zoologist George Albert Boulenger in 1907, based upon holotypes discovered in the Dja River, near Bitye in Cameroon. The specific name "batesii" refers to the name of the collector of the first specimen.
Synodontis budgetti, known as Budgett's synodontis, is a species of upside-down catfish native to Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria where it occurs in Lake Nokoue and the Niger. It was first described by Belgian-British zoologist George Albert Boulenger in 1911, from specimens collected in Lokoja, Nigeria. The species name budgetti comes from name of the collector of the original specimen, J.S. Budgett.
Synodontis courteti is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to the countries of the Niger and Chad Basins. It has been recorded in Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. It was first described by French zoologist Jacques Pellegrin in 1906, from specimens collected in the Chari River, Chad. The species name courteti is named after M. Courtet, member of the "Mission Chari-Lac Chad".
Synodontis geledensis, known as the Geledi squeaker, is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia where it can be found in the Lorian Swamp, the Shebelle and Ewaso Ng'iro rivers. It was first described by German zoologist Albert Günther in 1896, from specimens obtained near Geledi, on the Shebeli River in east Africa. The species name geledensis comes from Geledi, Somalia, the location where the first specimens were first found.
Synodontis marmoratus is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to Cameroon where it is found in the Sanage and Nyong Rivers. It was first described by Swedish zoologist and conservationist Einar Lönnberg in 1895, from a specimen collected from Bonge, Cameroon.
Synodontis obesus, known as the Coas synodontis, is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to the coastal drainages of Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. It was first described by British-Belgian zoologist George Albert Boulenger in 1898. The species name obesus is derived from the Latin word obesus, meaning "fat".
