the pygmy seahorses comprise several species of tiny seahorse in the syngnathid family or syngnathidae ( seahorses and pipefish ) .

family syngnathidae is part of order syngnathiformes , which contains fishes with fused jaws that suck food into tubular mouths .

they are found in southeast asia in the coral triangle area .

they are some of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 centimetres ( 0.79 in ) in height .

the first pygmy seahorse known to science was hippocampus bargibanti .

at least six more species were named after 2000 .

the first species discovered lives exclusively on fan corals and matches their colour and appearance .

so effective is pygmy seahorse camouflage that it was discovered only when a host gorgonian was being examined in a laboratory .

in 1969 a new caledonian scientist , georges bargibant , was collecting specimens of muricella spp gorgonians for the nouméa museum and whilst one of these was on his dissection table he happened to notice a pair of tiny seahorses .

the next year they were officially named by whitley as bargibant 's pygmy seahorse .

other species live on soft corals or are free-ranging among seagrasses and algae .

pygmy seahorse

not many creatures can match the pygmy seahorse for being so simultaneously enigmatic and simply gorgeous . the cryptic pygmy seahorse
this pygmy seahorse is one of 9 known species of pygmy seahorse . due to their amazing camouflage ability and tiny size , many pygmy seahorse species have only been discovered over the past 10 years , and more may be discovered . in addition , many species have different color morphs , making identification even more difficult .
the dwarf seahorse ( hippocampus zosterae ) is a small seahorse found in the western atlantic ocean . they are also known as little seahorses or pygmy seahorses .
the common pygmy seahorse or bargibant ' s seahorse is one of the tiniest known vertebrates . this seahorse was named after the scuba diver who discovered the species in 1969 while collecting specimens for the noumea aquarium in new caledonia .
mcgrouther , m . pygmy seahorse , hippocampus bargibanti whitley , 1970 . australian museum . accessed january 30 , 2016 .
the kenyan pygmy chameleon isn ' t the only adorably tiny pygmy species . there are also marshall ' s pygmy chameleon and spectral pygmy chameleon . below is the brookesia minima , or commonly called the madagascan dwarf chameleon , the minute leaf chameleon , the pygmy leaf chameleon , the nosy be pygmy leaf chameleon , and the tiny ground chameleon . in other words , chameleons can blend in not only with their colors but also with their names !
as its name implies , the pygmy seahorse is a tiny fish . it lives on gorgonians ( sea fans ) of the genus muricella .
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only known to occur on gorgonian corals of the genus muricella , the pygmy seahorse is typically found between 16 and 40 metres depth ( 2 ) .
the pygmy seahorse is classified as data deficient ( dd ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) , and listed on appendix ii of cites ( 3 ) .
the pygmy seahorse has a short snout , rounded knob - like coronet and irregular bulbous tubercles on the body . it has a rounded spine above each eye and on each cheek .
why are they only being discovered now ? since no one knew they existed , they were not being looked for . because of their astonishing camouflage , they were easily overlooked until 1969 in new indonesia when h . bargibanti was discovered . it was found on accident when a biologist was observing muricella sp . gorgonians which were retrieved by divers . the biologist found the tiny seahorse was using the gorgonian as its host . this species was so well hidden that they were not even noticed until the coral was examined in a lab ! many species of pygmy seahorses were discovered just recently , including hippocampus debelius , or the soft - coral seahorse , which was revealed in 1993 by an underwater photographer . severn’s pygmy seahorse , pontoh’s pygmy seahorse , and satomi’s pygmy seahorse were just named at the end of 2008 ! the majority of pygmy seahorses have been found by divers instead of scientists . scientists then later verified the divers findings .
under the care of experienced researchers at national aquaria , all pygmy seahorses and their gorgonians have died .
noaa fisheries . dwarf seahorse ( hippocampus zosterae ) . accessed september 30 , 2014 .
. other distinctive pygmy seahorse characteristics include a fleshy head and body , a very short snout , and a long , prehensile tail . this is also one of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 centimetres ( 0 . 79 in ) in height .
vincent , a . 1995 . a role for daily greetings in maintaining seahorse pair bonds .
hello , my names angela . where can i buy a seahorse in ma or nh ?
there are a number of enrichments available to improve brine shrimp . you can even make your own . probably the most popular among seahorse keepers is dan’s feed , available through seahorse source .
pygmy seahorses have such a weird but elegant look to them , their bright colors are so attractive as well .
the pygmy seahorse is known from coral reefs in the tropical western pacific around australia ( queensland ) , indonesia , japan , new caledonia , papua new guinea and the philippines ( 1 ) ( 2 ) .
before getting into dwarf seahorse care , it’s important to understand a little bit about their biology .
what is a pygmy seahorse ? pygmy seahorses are part of the genus hippocampus which all seahorses belong . they are minute seahorse species found through the world , most less than one inch in size . while they have been known about to science since the discovery of h . bargibanti in 1969 , most species have been discovered within the past 10 years . since then , they have become one of the most popular creatures for recreational divers to seek out .
stockton , n . 2014 . baby pygmy seahorses are even cuter than you think . wired . accessed january 30 , 2016 .
the first time i saw pygmy seahorse in bali . i didn’t know what my guide show me , and he bring me more close with the gorgonian and finally i saw very2 small things moving . i am very happy diving in bali 😀
masonjones , h . , s . lewis . 1996 . courtship behavior in the dwarf seahorse , hippocampus zosterae .
lourie , s . a . and randall , j . e . ( 2003 ) a new pygmy seahorse , hippocampus denise ( teleostei : syngnathidae ) from the indo - pacific . zoological studies , 42 ( 2 ) : 284 - 291 .
authenticated ( 19 / 12 / 2006 ) by sara lourie , project seahorse / redpath museum , mcgill university . urltoken
the walea seahorse is named after an island in central sulawesi , indonesia—the only place it has so far been found .
gomon , m . f . 1997 . a remarkable new pygmy seahorse ( syngnathidae : hippocampus ) from south - eastern australia , with a description of h . bargibanti whitley from new caledonia . memoirs of the museum of victoria 56 ( 1 ) : 245–253 .
pygmy seahorses are unique from other seahorse species in that they are much smaller , less than an inch tall . in fact , they are the smallest seahorses in the world , and the record holder h . satomiae is only 13mm tall when fully grown . that’s just barely over a half an inch ! they are also closely associated with their host as they possess the amazing ability to mimic it which protects them from predators . because of this , new species of pygmy seahorses are still being discovered ! unlike many other seahorses , the pygmy seahorse does not have recognizable body rings . other things that make them different from other species of seahorse not having a fully formed pouch and some types having a single gill slit such as h . colemani , h . pontohi , and h . severnsi .
pygmy seahorses are listed as data deficient on the iucn red list due to lack of published data on population sizes or trends for the species .
like other seahorses , it’s the male pygmy that becomes pregnant . he gives birth to around a dozen young after a gestation of 10 - 14 days
due to the very small size of the pygmy seahorse they can’t eat anything large at all . they tend to consume very small particles of food from their environment . mainly this is in the form of the young brine shrimp but they do consume some other types of crustaceans .
2003 .
biology of seahorses
( on - line ) . project seahorse . accessed october 13 , 2004 at urltoken .
the pygmy seahorse is one of the newest that have been identified . since they are so tiny and they blend so well with the surroundings . they weren’t even known to exist until they were accidentally placed in captivity on some coral reef and then they were detected and closely examined .
reijnen , b . t . , et al . 2011 . fish , fans and hydroids : host species of pygmy seahorses . zookeys 103 : 1–26 .
all but one of the seven species so far identified is found in southeast asia . coleman’s pygmy is confirmed only from lord howe island off australia’s east coast
epoch times staff . ( 8 / 11 / 2011 . )
science in pictures : pygmy seahorses .
the epoch times , northern california edition .
pygmy seahorses can be found coastal areas ranging from southern japan and indonesia to northern australia and new caledonia . they normally reside in depths of 10 - 40m on reefs . these distinctive pygmy seahorse species have attracted the attention of divers worldwide , making it extremely valuable to the diving industry . in sabah , a colony of pygmy seahorses is visited by about 100 divers per day . unfortunately , these visits can be dangerous to the seahorses . with photographers constantly taking pictures , the flashes from cameras could possibly influence them in negative ways . at this time , there are no policies to protect them from harm .
masonjones hd and sm lewis . 1996 . courtship behavior in the dwarf seahorse , hippocampus zosterae . copeia 1996 : 634 - 640 .
there are three species of pygmy shrew in the world , the american pygmy shrew ( pictured above ) , eurasian pygmy shrew , and the etruscan pygmy shrew . of the three , the etruscan pygmy shrew , pictured below , is the smallest and it is also considered the smallest mammal in the world by mass ( the kitti ' s hog - nosed bat is the smallest by skull size ) . the tiny creature grows to only about 1 . 4 inches in body length , but despite that size , it will eat 1 . 5 to 2 times its own body weight in food a day , scarfing down everything from small vertebrates and invertebrates , to prey as large as itself ! if you think that ' s amazing , the 2 - inch long american pygmy shrew eats three times its body weight a day , requiring it to capture and eat a meal every 15 - 30 minutes just to stay alive . small body , but enormous appetite !
if you happen to come across a pygmy seahorse , please remember to follow these tips . you may look at them but always be careful around pygmy seahorses . do not touch or attempt to move them . obviously , do not try to collect them for pet - owning or trade purposes . keep flashlights and flash photography away from them . avoid touching or destroying the seafan and take note of the coral around you . they are sensitive to stress and dislike flashes and harassment from divers . pygmy seahorses are safe as long as they are not disturbed in any way . we want these beautiful and colorful creatures to stay .
much has changed regarding our understanding of seahorse care , and many other species are now commonly available . yet the dwarf seahorse remains an ever popular , easy to care for aquarium pet . the basics of keeping them are quite simple as long as you follow a few guidelines .
adults are usually found in pairs or clusters of pairs , with up to 28 pygmy seahorses recorded on a single gorgonian , and may be monogamous . as with other
very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the
@ paul no they are two different species . they are very similar , but they are not the same animal . pygmy seahorses are slightly smaller than dwarf seahorses .
if one wants to keep a miniature species of seahorse in an aquarium , consider looking into the hippocampus zosterae , also known as the dwarf seahorse , instead . dwarf seahorses are much less sensitive to captive conditions and are easier to take care of . pygmy seahorses are often confused with dwarf seahorses in literature . although both are similarly tiny , they are not the same . dwarf seahorses do have the similar appeal of being tiny but make better pets .
project seahorse . 2003 . hippocampus bargibanti . the iucn red list of threatened species 2003 : e . t10060a3158205 . accessed january 30 , 2016 .
pygmy seahorses live on gorgonian corals off australia , new caledonia , indonesia , japan , papua new guinea , and the philippines , in water depths of about 52 - 131 feet .
project seahorse ( 2003 ) . hippocampus bargibanti . 2006 . iucn red list of threatened species . iucn 2006 . urltoken . retrieved on 12 may 2006 .
project seahorse 2003 . hippocampus zosterae . the iucn red list of threatened species . version 2014 . 2 . < urltoken > . accessed september 30 , 2014 .
vincent , a . 1997 .
nova - kingdom of the seahorse
( on - line ) . pbs . accessed october 13 , 2004 at urltoken .
strawn k . 1958 . life history of the pigmy seahorse , hippocampus zosterae jordan and gilbert , at cedar key , florida . copeia 1958 : 16 - 22 .
jordan , , gilbert . 1882 .
hippocamous zosterae ( dwarf seahorse )
( on - line ) . fishbase . accessed october 13 , 2004 at urltoken .
found in the swamps and forests of west africa , the pygmy hippo is one of the only two species of hippo on earth , and it is endangered . the elusive and nocturnal pygmy hippo is vulnerable not only to the loss of habitat to agriculture , but also to hunting and poaching . experts estimate there are fewer than 3 , 000 of these unique little guys left in the wild .
pygmy seahorses are only found living in coral reefs , sea grass beds , and algae , which makes them vulnerable to habitat destruction of that species of coral is destroyed . most of the host corals have been found to be nearly impossible to maintain in captivity . because these corals can only thrive in the wild , it is possible that divers may disrupt the environment of the pygmy seahorses . gorgonian corals are susceptible to destruction by divers and that is not good for the pygmy seahorses , since their survival largely depends on the corals . it is important that divers follow recommended guidelines to viewing these animals .
though small in size , these animals are not small on personality nor good looks ! check out these fascinating and , let ' s admit it , simply adorable pygmy species from all over the globe .
the small size of the pygmy seahorse makes it very hard for them to be able to live along . they attach to a host – gorgonian corals – in order to survive . the coloring of them will blend with them . this is how they are able to survive since they can’t swim well and they are too small to handle the water currents without an anchor .
very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the iucn red list 2006 . because of the unusual and attractive colouration of this small seahorse it is possible that it could be being collected for the aquaria trade , although no international trade in the species has been recorded .
it ' s amazing how many pygmy bird species exist , including this pygmy cormorant . a seabird of southeastern europe and southwestern asia , they live among reedbeds and near open waters , and are often found in rice fields and other flooded crop areas . because they require wetlands to survive , their populations have been dramatically affected over recent decades as wetlands have been drained for agricultural purposes and other changes to their watery habitats .
they are easily identified by their small size , as well as by amount of body rings ( 9 or 10 ) and dorsal fin rays ( 12 ) . this seahorse ' s common name could be used for other small species of seahorse , but this species is on of the smallest at around 2 . 5cm ( 1
) total length in adult males .
this gremlin - looking critter made headlines when it was
rediscovered
in 2000 after one was accidentally killed in a trap set for rats . the species hadn ' t been spotted since the 1920s and was thought to be extinct , but finally in 2008 researchers from texas a & m university spotted the first living pygmy tarsiers in decades . the 4 - inch long pygmy tarsiers weigh only about 2 ounces , and prey entirely on insects .
very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the iucn red list ( 1 ) . because of the unusual and attractive colouration of this small seahorse it is possible that it could be being collected for the aquaria trade ( 1 ) , although no international trade in the species has been recorded ( 2 ) .
there are five species of pygmy possum , four endemic to australia and one found in papua new guinea and indonesia . the eastern pygmy possum , pictured above and below , is one of the australian species . it is only about 2 . 8 - 3 . 5 inches long , and a 3 - 4 . 3 inch long tail . meanwhile , the tasmanian pygmy possum , pictured perched on the rocks in the image below , is the world ' s smallest possum , weighing in at only about . 25 oz and growing to only about 2 . 5 - 3 inches in body length . these teensy possums need to keep a sharp eye out for owls , which readily prey on them .
the color and shape of this seahorse nearly perfectly matches the corals on which it lives . check out a video of these tiny seahorses to experience their incredible ability to blend in with their surroundings .
the small size and specific body ring and dorsal ray counts should be sufficient to allow the dwarf seahorse to be distinguished from the larger congener hippocampus erectus , with which it may co - occur .
very little is known about the total number of pygmy seahorses , population trends , distribution , or major threats . it has therefore been classified as data deficient on the iucn red list 2006 ( 1 ) . because of the unusual and attractive colouration of this small seahorse it is possible that it could be being collected for the aquaria trade ( 1 ) , although no international trade in the species has been recorded ( 2 ) .
last but certainly not least , not even by pygmy standards , is the pygmy three - toed sloth . this is one of the world ' s most endangered species with only about 100 left in the wild on isla escudo de veraguas , panama . after a controversial issue of dallas aquarium attempting to import eight of these sloths , supposedly for a captive breeding program in texas , the captured sloths were released . the above video is one of them being returned to its home .
wilson mj , and acj vincent . 1998 . preliminary success in closing the life cycle of exploited seahorse species , hippocampus spp . , in captivity . aquarium sciences and conservation 2 : 179 - 196 .
yes , even the largest animal alive on earth today , the blue whale , has a pygmy relative . this subspecies is found in the indian and pacific oceans , and grows to 79 feet ( which apparently is puny in the world of blue whales ) . they ' re described as
tadpole
shaped compared to their larger cousin , with a shorter tail and proportionately larger head . it ' s estimated that there are around 10 , 000 pygmy blue whales traveling the oceans .
i am looking to buy two small seahorse’ to keep as pets and i wld like to know where t obuy them at email me back at beall . jasmine @ urltoken they are really kool creatures ilove them
they carry about 10 - 20 eggs per breeding . the eggs are fertilized and incubated until hatching time . offspring are born live about two weeks later and are then independent from parents . fry , or baby seahorses , usually cling to coral reefs and feed immediately after birth . they look just like miniature versions of the parents . little is known about the pygmy seahorse’s life cycle , although other small seahorses species are known to live for around a year .
pygmy seahorses are found in the costal regions of the indo - pacific ocean , including indonesia , new guinea , great barrier reef , new caledonia , japan , and the philippines . they range from 3 °n – 23 °s and do not migrate .
reijnen , b . t . , van der meij , s . e . t . , van ofwegen , l . p . ( 2011 )
fish , fans and hydroids : host species of pygmy seahorses .
zookeys 103 : 1 - 26 .
though they may be tiny , these itty bitty raptors are fierce , and there are a bunch of them ! roughly 25 - 35 species of pygmy owl , or owlet , can be found all over the world , but they ' re mainly found in western north america and central america . the northern pygmy owl , pictured below , ranges all the way from canada to honduras . with a wingspan of only 30 - 40 centimeters , the raptor usually goes after insects or smaller prey like lizards , rodents and small birds .
pygmy seahorses are not suitable for home aquariums because their survival likely depends on host corals . waikiki aquarium has attempted to keep the host gorgonian for h . bargibanti , and was unable to keep it alive more than a few months . these species of seahorses have very small mouths , making them difficult to feed in a closed system . not only is the environment for pygmy seahorses hard to maintain , it is probably impossible to obtain the seahorses themselves anyway since they are so rare . they are extremely delicate and are better off living in the wild .
lourie , s . a . , vincent , c . j . & h . j . hall . 1999 . seahorses . an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse . pp . 214 .
dwarf seahorses are also collected in florida for the marine ornamental aquarium industry . annual seahorse landings vary widely , but adams et al . ( 2001 ) indicates more than 80 , 000 h . zosterae were collected in florida in 1992 .
, commonly known as the dwarf seahorse , inhabits coastal waters of the western atlantic ocean , including the caribbean sea , the gulf of mexico , and the continental shelf of the southeastern united states ( jordan and gilbert , 1882 ) .
and other seahorse species produce a rapid clicking sound as a form of communication . these clicking sounds have been observed during courtship and copulation , inter - male competition , feeding , and stress produced , for example , by moving a seahorse from one tank into another . dwarf seahorses produce these clicking sounds by stridulation , which is the production of sound through the grinding together of hard , usually bony structures . in this case the skull grinds against the vertebrae . more specifically ,
the ( appropriately named ) pygmy mouse lemur is a tiny primate only about 4 . 7–5 . 1 inches long , including the tail ! found only in a localized area of kirindy forest in western madagascar , the species is threatened by poachers who capture them for the pet trade .
lives well camouflaged amongst the branches of the gorgonian coral . it is a tiny timid creature with a maximum length of less than an inch , however watch out if you are a little shrimp , this cute seahorse has a sharp eye and a big appetite . this is a very popular seahorse amongst underwater enthusiasts which is why roger and catherine have released it as a limited edition print on archival paper which is signed by the artist . ( print run limited to rogers lifetime )
range from 5 to 20 milliseconds in length and are between 2 . 65 and 3 . 43 khz . also , as size of the seahorse increases the peak frequencies of the clicking sounds decrease ( colson et al . , 1998 ) .
that’s a tough call . the tankmates article says that they are a one – good with everything but might not be safe with seahorse fry . dwarfs are a bit of an anomaly , being so small , but they’re larger than fry .
is one of the smallest of the many different seahorse species , ranging in size between 2 to 2 . 5 cm . the maximum reported size was a male of 5 . 0 cm ( jordan and gilbert , 1882 ) . this species of seahorse can be distinguished from other western atlantic seahorse species by the presence of 10 to 13 dorsal and pectoral fin rays ( daswon and vari , 1982 ) . also , dwarf seahorses possess 9 to 10 trunk rings , a high knob - like coronet that lacks spines or projections , knob - like spines on the body , a short snout that is one - third the length of the head , and skin covered in tiny warts ( lourie et al . , 2004 ) .
the western pacific is where you will find this species of seahorse living . from southern japan to northern australia you will find them . they are found in caledonia . the shallow areas that are also very warm are where they will be living .
lourie , s . , s . foster , e . cooper , a . vincent . 2004 .
a guide to the identification of seahorses
( on - line pdf ) . project seahorse . accessed october 14 , 2004 at urltoken .
the seahorses refered to in the above article are dwarf seahorses not pygmy seahorses . the main article refers to this confusion . so long as you can supply daily live food ( enriched brine shrimp ) then dwarfs will readily breed , mine had 10 babies within 1 month of arrival into the aquarium 🙂
the maximum length of a dwarf seahorse is just under 2 inches . like many other seahorse species , it has a variety of color forms , which range from tan to green to almost black . their skin may be mottled , have dark spots , and covered in tiny warts . these seahorses have a short snout , and a coronet on top of their head that is very high and column - like or knob - like in shape . they may also have filaments extending from their head and body .
the first known pygmy seahorse species was hippocampus bargibanti , which was actually discovered on a gorgonian coral that was being examined in a laboratory . and no wonder ; the species is only about 2 centimeters in length and is exceptional at blending with its host coral . even so , scientists have managed to discover six more species since 2000 . very little is known about these species , and they do not survive in aquariums even under the most expert of care , which is why it is good they are listed under cites and the australian wildlife protection act .
all seahorses are carnivores . pygmy seahorses feed on zooplankton , primarily copepods . h . bargibanti has been observed eating zooplankton captured in the polyps of its host coral . they do not have tongues or teeth . prey is sucked into the seahorse’s mouth once it is within range . they have very small mouths so they require areas that flourish with its natural food . this species also does not have a stomach for digestion , making their digestive systems inefficient . therefore , food must constantly be ingested to survive since they do not have a place to store its food .
if you thought bunny rabbits couldn ' t get any cuter , meet the columbia basin pygmy rabbit . this species - - the smallest rabbit in north america - - is found only in one area of washington state , the ( you guessed it ) columbia basin . because of the specific location , the species is subject to threat by habitat loss and wildfires . the pygmy rabbit was listed under the endangered species act in 2003 and a recovery plan , including captive breeding program and collaborative recovery effort with oregon zoo , washington state university , northwest trek wildlife park , usfws and other state wildlife agencies , is in place .
justification : hippocampus bargibanti is a coral reef - inhabiting pygmy seahorse that inhabits the indo - west pacific from southern sumatra to new caledonia and from tokyo , japan , to the southern edge of australia ' s great barrier reef . the species is only found on muricella corals . they may be threatened by habitat loss due to coastal development , polllution , destructive fishing practices , and the effects of climate change . further research is needed to determine population size , trends in abundance , and how these threats are affecting the species . therefore h . bargibanti is listed as data deficient .
of its host species of gorgonian coral , while its body matches the gorgonian stem . it is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts , although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species , such as
lourie , s . a . , a . c . j . vincent and h . j . hall , 1999 . seahorses : an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse , london . 214 p . ( ref . 30915 )
lourie , s . a . , foster , s . j . , cooper , e . w . t . and a . c . j . vincent . 2004 . a guide to the identification of seahorses . project seahorse and traffic north america . 114 pp .
the ability of seahorses to change color in many social situations is most likely a form of communication about the state or mood of the seahorse to its mate or other members of its species ( indiviglio , 2002 ) . mates also communicate with nose pointing and body vibrations .
dwarf seahorses look similar to other common seahorse species . they have cirri , for camouflage , but these usually disappear when kept in the aquarium . their colouration varies from beige to yellow to green to black to mottled , and they are capable of colour change like a chameleon .
all pygmy seahorses are distinguished as having a plump head and body , a short truncated snout , and a long tail capable of clinging to coral . species can be differentiated by colors , size , and other characteristic appearances . h . severnsi , for example , lacks tubercles on its head . all seahorses swim upright with their head up and tail down , and are propelled forward with their dorsal fin . these seahorses normally stay still and will let go of its host to relocate a few centimeters at a time when disturbed . they can swim for about a minute and can also float . different species of pygmy seahorses vary in color and distinctness of tubercles .
since pygmy seahorses are camouflaged so well , specific information of the population trends , distribution , and amount of pygmy seahorses is unknown . because little is known , they are classified as “data deficient . ” it is probable that they will be collected for trade for their remarkable beauty . research must be administered to this species in order to find out its status so that policies can be implemented to keep them safe and protected . however , this will prove to be challenging because of its ability to hide so well . it is important that they are secure from exploitation of their stunning appearance . there are already projects and teams committed to conserving seahorses and their habitats .
the pygmy seahorse is undoubtedly one of the most well camouflaged species in the oceans , being extremely difficult to spot amongst the gorgonian coral it inhabits . so effective is this camouflage that the species wasn ' t actually discovered until its host gorgonian was being examined in a lab . large , bulbous tubercles cover this species ' body and match the colour and shape of the polyps of its host species of gorgonian coral , while its body matches the gorgonian stem . two colour morphs exist – pale grey or purple individuals scattered with pink or red tubercles are found on the similarly coloured gorgonian coral muricella plectana , and yellow individuals with orange tubercles are found on gorgonian coral muricella paraplectana . it is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts , although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species , such as h . whitei . other distinctive characteristics include a fleshy head and body , a very short snout , and a long , prehensile tail . this is also one of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 cm in height . the male carries eggs and young concealed within the trunk region .
lourie , s . a . , a . c . j . vincent and h . j . hall , 1999 . seahorses : an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse , london . 214 p . via fishbase , september 30 , 2014 .
pygmy seahorses are marine fish and live in coastal reefs on gorgonians . different species live on different kinds of gorgonian corals ranging from anella to muricella . h . colemani is found among zostera and halophila plants . the coral provides a safe hiding place for them . they blend in perfectly with their colors matching that of the coral as well as similar texture , since they have tubercles that go with the polyps of coral . h . waleananus are often found on soft corals and have exceptionally long tails . up to 28 pairs of adult pygmy seahorses can be found on a single gorgonian , as adults are usually paired together and are often monogamous . they are mostly found in tropical waters .
lourie , s . a . , foster , s . j . , cooper , e . w . t . and vincent , a . c . j . ( 2004 ) a guide to the identification of seahorses . project seahorse and traffic north america , washington d . c . .
lourie , s . a . , foster , s . j . , cooper , e . w . t . and vincent , a . c . j . ( 2004 ) a guide to the identification of seahorses . project seahorse and traffic north america , washington d . c . .
the dwarf seahorse , hippocampus zosterae , is a small seahorse common to florida seagrass flats . it is variable in color , often tan and unpatterned , but individuals can also range in color from green to nearly black . the snout is long relative to body size and the coronet ( head projection ) is high and knob - like . the dorsal fin has 11 - 13 fin rays and a dark submarginal stripe that may aid in identification . body ring counts reveal 10 - 14 trunk rings and 31 - 33 tail rings ( hoese and moore 1977 , robins et al . 1986 ) .
i think i ay still stick with dwarf as i dont have the room for a full sized seahorse , but i may keep them in a breeding net so they breed and then i will have more in the tank , and i have found instant brineshrimp that has been used on dwarves before .
maintenance is extremely important in dwarf seahorse aquariums . it is probably one of the trickiest aspects of keeping them . because the amount of food that goes into the aquarium , their water is fouled easily . 25 % water changes every other week are a bare minimum , and a weekly schedule is ideal .
the pygmy seahorse is undoubtedly one of the most well camouflaged species in the oceans , being extremely difficult to spot amongst the gorgonian coral it inhabits . so effective is this camouflage that the species wasn ' t actually discovered until its host gorgonian was being examined in a lab . large , bulbous tubercles cover this species ' body and match the colour and shape of the polyps of its host species of gorgonian coral , while its body matches the gorgonian stem . two colour morphs exist – pale grey or purple individuals scattered with pink or red tubercles are found on the similarly coloured gorgonian coral muricella plectana , and yellow individuals with orange tubercles are found on gorgonian coral muricella paraplectana ( 4 ) . it is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts , although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species , such as h . whitei ( 5 ) . other distinctive characteristics include a fleshy head and body , a very short snout , and a long , prehensile tail ( 4 ) ( 6 ) . this is also one of the smallest seahorse species in the world , typically measuring less than 2 cm in height ( 1 ) . the male carries eggs and young concealed within the trunk region ( 5 ) .
this poses a problem for dwarf seahorses for two reasons . in such large numbers , they can quickly consume all the food in the aquarium . however , a much bigger threat comes from stinging cells . their sting isn’t particularly potent to most animals , but for the tiny dwarf seahorse , the sting can be deadly .
as for filtration type , it varies quite a bit . people are moving away from sponge filters , but using the integrated filters can be difficult ; either the flow ends up too high , or their isn’t a good way to protect the intake . there is a lot of experiments going on by dwarf seahorse keepers on the best way to handle dwarf seahorse filtration . putting sponges and hose over the intakes has mixed results too . they frequently get clogged to quickly . and you have to be careful with filters removing food . that’s one advantage of sponge filters ; they don’t remove food from the water column . however they can get clogged too .
the pygmy raccoon , or cozumel raccoon , is a critically endangered species found only on cozumel island off the yucatan peninsula . these tiny versions of their much larger and more populous cousins are on the verge of extinction , with only around 500 left . recently conservation photographer kevin schafer spent time photographing these adorable critters in an effort to help bring awareness to them and promote conservation of the species .
oh yeah ! , that something else i wanted to ask . what would be the best kind of filter to use ? my bf asked our local fish shop and one of the guys who had just set up a seahorse tank said a gravel filter , but i’ve read these arent good to use in with the dwarves ? ? ?
pygmy seahorses are ovoviviparous , but unlike most animals , the male carries the eggs , which are contained in an on his underside . when mating occurs , the female transfers her eggs into the male ' s pouch , where he fertilizes the eggs . about 10 - 20 eggs are carried at one time . the gestation period is about 2 weeks . the young hatch looking like even tinier , mini seahorses .
australian populations of pygmy seahorses are listed under the australian wildlife protection act , so that export permits are now required , although they are only granted for approved management plans or captive - bred animals . with such limited data available , there is an urgent need for further research to be conducted on its biology , ecology , habitat , abundance and distribution , before its status can be properly assessed and conservation measures implemented accordingly .
we ' re used to seeing the enormous size of african and indian elephants , but the borneo pygmy elephant is no less special despite its smaller size . according to dna analysis , it is thought that this species was isolated about 300 , 000 years ago from their mainland cousins , making them a subspecies of asian elephant . found in tropical rainforest habitats in north borneo , it is estimated there are fewer than 2 , 000 left .
dwarves , just like large seahorses , need places to hitch . many keepers opt for artificial decorations because of the risk of hydroids ( see below . ) most basic aquarium plants work well . macro algae can be used but must be treated for hydroids . live rock should be used with caution , as many pest can hitch hike in and harm the diminutive seahorse .
with a head about the size of a human thumb , the pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world and among all primates , only the mouse lemur ( listed below ) is smaller . it is found in the rainforests of the amazon basin , where it uses its sharp nails to cling to the branches of trees and its specialized teeth to feed on tree gum . it also makes a snack of insects , fruit and nectar .
. frankly , thank goodness for multiple species because we can ' t get enough of the cuteness ! the pygmy jeroba is considered the world ' s smallest rodent and , as andrew sullivan put it , has
a rabbit ' s face on tweety - pie ' s body
. though tiny , its long legs allow it to hop as far as nine feet in a single bound . here is some of that famous cuteness in action :
lourie , s . a . , a . c . j . vincent and h . j . hall , 1999 . seahorses : an identification guide to the world ' s species and their conservation . project seahorse , london . 214 p . in froese , r . and d . pauly . editors . 2015 . fishbase ( 10 / 2015 ) . accessed january 30 , 2016 .
thank you so much for you hard work and research . i had seahorse’s many years ago back in the days when you use to ordered them from the backs of comic books i was about 12 . i loved having them but back then information was limited . there was no internet and the information on then was very limited from pet shop owners if accurate . i had them and made every mistake on the book . i had them in large tank with other mates , feeding regiment was off , enrichment wasn’t even heard off no one really new about and i could go on and on but ill leave out the details even though i always had marine tanks i just gave up on seahorse keeping all together because it was not fair for the horses cruel and expensive . i went trough dwarf , large seahorse’s you name it . i was always intrigued by them and love them . i would make frequent trips to the mystic and boston aquarium whenever i get and urge to see them , and they were subjects of my artwork . recently i have taken up the hobby but not before reading and re reading and researching before i even set the tank up . i must say after countless of articles yours is the easiest to understand and the most detailed by far . here i am at 53 years old enjoying once again on of my childhood dreams a successful seahorse aquarium . i have purchase tank raised dwarfs and the are doing great and i have pair that mated and already have raise young that only home has been my tank . thank you so much for your webpage is valuable information .
hi brenda ! that’s a fairly complex question and a lot of it will be based on what you want to accomplish . i suggest signing up at our forums so we can get more details about what you’re looking for , and what your experience level is . it sounds like you’re looking for larger seahorse to keep , not dwarves due to the tank size you have . you’ll want to make sure you get captive bred seahorses .
dwarf seahorse are subtropical , but can handle a wide range of temperatures as long as the change isn’t too quick . you can expect to successfully keep them between the temperatures of 65 and 80 degrees , with 68 - 74 being optimal . this means they don’t need a heater if kept in a normally heated house . a thermometer is a must though , to monitor for large temperature swings and the temperature going outside of the safe zone .
very little is known about the ecology of this species . it is one of the smallest seahorse species , measuring less than 2 cm in height ( lourie et al . 1999 ) . it has a specific habitat , being found only on gorgonian corals muricella plectana ( gomon 1997 , tackett and tackett 1997 , whitley 1970 ) at depths ranging from 16–40 m ( tackett and tackett 1997 ) . hippocampus bargibanti appears to form pairs and may be monogamous .
these are among the smallest of all living things in the water when they are born . they do have a higher rate of survival than most species of seahorses though . this is due to the fact that they are among the best at hiding in their natural setting . their color allows them to blend easier than any other type of seahorse in the world . they have to care for themselves immediately after birth as there is no parental care at all .
very little is known about the ecology of this species . it is one of the smallest seahorse species , measuring less than 2 cm in height ( lourie et al . 1999 ) . it has a specific habitat , being found only on gorgonian corals muricella plectana ( gomon 1997 , tackett and tackett 1997 , whitley 1970 ) at depths ranging from 1640 m ( tackett and tackett 1997 ) . hippocampus bargibanti appears to form pairs and may be monogamous ( tackett and tackett 1997 ) .
seahorse populations are declining mainly due to large quantities collected and sold for the aquarium trade and for traditional chinese medicine . chinese medicine alone is the largest consumer of seahorses , with an estimate of 20 million seahorses used per year for this economic market . evidence from the year 2000 showed that more than 50 tons of dried seahorses were collected for the trade in asia alone . research has estimated that populations are declining at rates of anywhere between 15 to 50 % over 5 year periods , depending on the species .
it’s recently come to my attention that very young seahorses of larger species are being sold as dwarf seahorses . these seahorses have much different requirements , and will quickly outgrow the small aquarium hippocampus zosterae require . if you found this article after purchasing a “dwarf seahorse” , please take a look at our article on the species mix up to ensure what you got was actually what you were told it was . if you’re unsure , please take a moment and post a picture to our forums . added 8 / 8 / 2015
there are many features that mark the development of young seahorses within the brood pouch . for example , dorsal fin rays develop first , followed by anal fins . both of these structures form before the complete growth of the mouth apparatus . during the larval stage of seahorse development external feeding is not necessary because the brood pouch provides larvae with nutrients . also , the yolk sack , which provides the young with nutrients , is preserved throughout the postembryonic period and disappears only moments before birth . therefore , the mouth apparatus does not become functional until young are released from the brood pouch ( kornienko , 2001 ) . compared to an adult seahorse , offspring within the brood pouch have a rounded tail instead of tetrahedral tail , a wider and shorter snout , a dorsal fin that is closer to the tail , and pectoral fins that are closer to the back of the head ( kornienko , 2001 ) . in addition , the season and the environment , such as water temperature , disproportionately influences the sex ratio of developing seahorses ( dawson and vari , 1982 ) .
omg they are soooooo beautifull . i would love to see these guys introbuced into the aquariums . but if they cant survive then id love to make sure their habbitat isnt disrupted . i read on a website that someone had actually had these guys in a aquarium and had breed them but i cant rember were i seen it if i come across it again ill post it . there my favorit seahorse . i also read that up to 100 + of these guys can live on 1 host plant . it was on a youtude video .


synodontis clarias , known as the red tailed synodontis , or the mandi , is a species of upside-down catfish that that occurs widely in the waters of northern africa .

it was first described by swedish zoologist carl linnaeus in 1758 as silurus clarias .

the original specimens were obtained in egypt , near cairo .

the meaning of the species name clarias is not certain , but may possibly have been used to mean " bright " or " clear " .

synodontis clarias

key words : synodontis clarias , helminth , parasites , proteocephalus , laguna lekki , lagos , nigeria .
key words : synodontis clarias , helmintos , parásitos , proteocephalus , laguna lekki , lagos , nigeria .
synodontis annectens boulenger 1911 linking or joining , believed to be intermediate in form between s . sorex and s . clarias
species of the genera proteocephalus have also been documented in some synodontis species , for instance proteocephalus beauchampi occurred in synodontis schall , and proteocephalus synodontis in synodontis batensoda and in s . schall .
lateral view of synodontis ornatipinnis , illustrating the striking patterns seen in some species of synodontis ; cu 91403 . ©
synodontis : from the greek syn , meaning together , and odontos , meaning tooth ; in reference to the closely - spaced lower jaw teeth . clarias means lively .
the rich fish fauna of the lagoon includes heterotis niloticus , gymnarchus niloticus , clarias gariepinus , malapierurus electricus , synodontis clarias , chysichthys nigrodigitatus , parachanna obscura ; mormyrus rume , calabaricus calamoichthys , tilapia zilli , tilapia galilae , hemichromis fasciatus and sarotherodon melanotheron ( kusemiju 1981 ) .
according to the host - parasite checklist of khalil and polling ( 1997 ) none of the collected parasites described above have been recorded for s . clarias . therefore , this study is the first scientific record of these helminth parasites in synodontis clarias . the parasite w . acuminata has only been documented to infect s . membranaceus in sudan .
akinsanya and otubanjo ( 2006 ) also found w . acuminata from clarias gariepinus collected from lekki lagoon . the prevalence of w . acuminata in different fish species could be an indication that there is no strict host specificity by this parasite . other species of wenyonia however have been found in some synodontis species : w . longicauda ( woodland , 1937 ) occurred in synodontis gambiensis , wenyonia minuta ( woodland , 1923 ) in chrysichthys auratus , and wenyonia virilis ( woodland , 1923 ) in svnodontis batensoda , synodontis schall and synodontis clarias ( khalil and polling , 1997 ) . wenyonia species has therefore been known to infect members of the family mochokidae .
synodontis : ancient name for an undetermined fish from the nile ( cuvier 1816 ) .
monitor - synodontis are food hogs and slow eaters may not get enough to eat .
synodontis clarias is easily recognised by its distinct colour pattern and long dorsal fin spine . i would suggest that you would expect to pay around £25 - £50 . 00 per fish ( 2008 u . k . prices ) depending upon size .
synodontis membranaceus ( geoffroy st . hilaire 1809 ) referring to membranes on maxillary and mandibular barbels
s . but once the featherfin synodontis grows well past four inches their identity becomes clear .
there are no documented reports of aquarium spawnings of synodontis clarias as far as i am aware , most likely due to the fact that this catfish is not commonly imported . they are documented as forming distinct pairs during spawning scattering their eggs over the substrate .
baron , v . d . , orlov , a . a . , and golubtsov , a . s . , african clarias catfish elicits long lasting weak electric pulses ,
yes - they can be kept with other synodontis if the tank is large with many hiding places .
as a catfish in the wild , it would have spent its days at the bottom of the rivers and lakes prowling for food with its three pairs of barbells ( another characteristic feature of this catfish , since only three other synodontis sport three pairs of barbells - synodontis decorus , synodontis clarias and synodontis flaevitaeniatus ) . being opportunistic and not such a finicky eater , it would have eaten whatever fits in its mouth . in the aquarium it will eat flakes , shrimp pellets and whatever falls at the bottom , but the diet should be enriched with frozen bloodworms and shrimp to keep its diet in a healthy balance .
the behaviour of the featherfin is peaceful , even with the other synodontis , and he is a marvel to watch .
the prevalence of the nematode species of the genera raphidascaroides is the first scientific reports in synodontis clarias of lekki lagoon . rajyalakshmi ( 1995 ) also collected a new species of this nematode genera from the intestine of hammer - headed shark , sphyrna zygaena ( linnaeus ) in sisakhapatnam , and this new species did not coincide with the description of already known species .
synodontis bastiani daget 1948 in honor of m . ( probably monsieur ) bastian ( no other information available ) , who collected type
synodontis dekimpei paugy 1987 in honor of p . de kimpe , musée royal de l’afrique centrale ( tervuren ) , who collected type
synodontis macrops greenwood 1963 macro - , large ; ops , eye , referring to larger eye compared to the similar s . schall
akinsanya , b . & o . a . otubanjo . 2006 . helminth parasites of clarias gariepinus ( clariidae ) in lekki lagoon , lagos , nigeria . rev . biol . trop . 54 : 93 - 99 . [ links ]
three hundred and sixty two specimens of s . clarias were examined for parasitic helminth fauna . all helminthic infections observed and recorded were restricted to the intestine . one hundred and forty specimens were found to be infected ( 38 . 2 % ) .
synodontis : ancient name for an undetermined fish from the nile ( cuvier 1816 ) acanthomias : very spiny . pertaining to the humeral process .
featherfin synodontis have not been successfully bred in home aquariums , though they have been bred in fish farms with the help of added hormones .
musschoot , t . , and p . lalèyè . 2008 . designation of a neotype for synodontis schall ( bloch and schneider , 1801 ) and description of two new species of synodontis ( siluriformes : mochokidae ) . journal of natural history 42 ( 17 - 18 ) : 13031331 .
table 2 shows intestinal helminth infections in relation to size of s . clarias . the group with a length between 10 - 15 cm showed 42 . 1 % of infection , the group with a length between 16 - 20 cm showed 36 . 6 % of infection , the group with a length between 21 - 25 cm showed 48 . 1 % of infection , and the group with a length between 26 - 30 cm showed 50 % of infection . the weight of the specimens examined ranged between 29 . 0 and 174 . 10 g . there was no relationship between sex and size in relation to gastrointestinal helminth infections in s . clarias . see the scatter diagram of male , female and combined sexes of s . clarias ( figs 1 - 3 ) .
writing for us this month ( august 2009 ) is regular contributor chris ralph . he is having a look at a member of the mochokidae family and one of the more impressive looking syno ' s , synodontis clarias . i now hand you over to chris for his in depth look at this african catfish . ynodontis clarias belongs to the family mochokidae from africa ; namely cameroon , chad , egypt , ethiopia , gambia , ghana , mali , niger , nigeria , nile , senegal and sudan and is documented as being found in lakes and rivers . this catfish is also documented as being found in the gambia and volta basins ; niger including the bénoué river .
synodontis longispinis pellegrin 1930 longus , long ; spinis , spine , described as a variety of s . batesii with a longer dorsal - fin spine
fossil mochokids , of the genus synodontis , have been found in deposits from eastern and northern africa dating to at least the early miocene ( at least 20 mya ) ( stewart , 2001 ) . interestingly , fragments of pectoral spines of synodontis dating from the early oligocene have been found in oman , an area where mochokids do not exist today ( otero & gayet , 2001 ) . fossil mochokids outside of the genus synodontis are presently unknown .
synodontis gobroni daget 1954 in honor of m . ( probably monsieur ) gobron , a volunteer at laboratoire de diafarabé ( mail ) , who collected type
synodontis irsacae matthes 1959 of i . r . s . a . c . ( institut pour la recherche scientifique en afrique centrale ) , matthes’ employer
synodontis thysi poll 1971 in honor of poll’s musée de l’afrique centrale colleague , dirk thys van den audenaerde ( b . 1934 ) , who collected type
description : s . clarias has maxillary barbels branched , 5 - 9 mandibular teeth only . the color of the adult is gray with a white belly and tail red . the dorsal soft rays extended its by black filaments . lt : 31cm , d : 1 . 11 kg .
collection and examination of specimens for parasites : from march 2003 to april 2004 , a total of 362 randomly selected fresh specimens of s . clarias obtained from lekki lagoon were purchased at oluwo market , epe , lagos , nigeria . the fresh specimens were immediately examined for gastrointestinal helminth parasites .
synodontis obesus boulenger 1898 fat , allusion not explained , perhaps referring to less - elongate body shape compared to s . serratus , with which it had been misidentified
synodontis soloni boulenger 1899 in memory of alexandre solon , a young traveler who died in congo after helping capt . capra ( no other information available ) collect fish
the featherfin synodontis is considered to be one of the ' upside - down ' catfish species . like their well - known relatives , the upside - down catfish
the featherfin can swim upside down at will . they are called squeakers because they produce a squeaking sound as a warning to both predators and competitors during spawning time . the squeaking is accomplished by rubbing the spines of its pectoral fins into grooves on its shoulders . other common names they are known by include featherfin catfish and featherfin synodontis . they are also referred to as the lace cat or synodontis lace catfish , though this name is more often applied to its very similar cousin the lace synodontis
6a . eyes with free orbital margin ; 17 principal caudal - fin rays ( only 13 in synodontis contracta ) ; tail forked ; 6 to 10 pectoral - fin rays ( usually 8 or 9 ) ; lateral mandibular barbels with single , gracile branches at each point along length or doubly branched ( fig . 27a–b ) … synodontis
synodontis haugi pellegrin 1906 in honor of protestant missionary ernest haug ( d . 1915 ) , a correspondent of múseum national d’histoire naturelle ( paris ) , who collected type
synodontis polyodon vaillant 1895 poly , many ; odon , tooth , referring to greater number of mandibular teeth ( ~ 75 ) compared to s . schall ( ~ 25 )
day , j . j . , and m . wilkinson . 2006 . on the origin of the synodontis catfish species flock from lake tanganyika . biology letters 2 : 548552 .
synodontis robbianus smith 1875 – anus , belonging to : rev . alexander robb , who provided specimens from the “old calavar district of tropical africa , ” including type of this one
bishai h . m . and y . b . abu gideiri . 1968 . studies on the biology of genus synodontis at khartoum . iii . reproduction . hydrobiologia 31 : 193202 .
sanyanga , r . a . 1998 . food composition and selectivity of synodontis zambezensis ( pisces : mochokidae ) in lake kariba , and the ecological implications . hydrobiologia 361 : 8999 .
synodontis nummifer boulenger 1899 nummus , coin ; fero , to bear , referring to 1 - 2 rounded ( i . e . , coin - like ) black spots on the sides
in nigeria the demand for fish exceeds supply and the proportion of animal protein in the diet is generally low . parasitic diseases of fish seem to be one of the major problems confronting fish culturists . the squeaker or upside - down catfish synodontis clarias ( linnaeus , 1758 ) is a benthopelagic , potamodromous fresh water fish that inhabits water with a ph range of 6 . 5 - 9 . 5 ( reids 2004 ) . the fish has been reported to present dioecism with external fertilization ( breeder and rosen 1966 ) .
although it will grow to around the 12¼
mark ( 30 . 5cm ) in the aquarium it is reported to grow to twice this size in its natural habitat . the genus synodontis sports three pairs of barbels 1pair : maxillary , 1 pair : outer mandibular and one pair of inner mandibular barbels that are branched ( filaments ) . there are only three species that have filaments on their maxillary barbels as well as the mandibular , and they are , s . clarias , s . decorus and s . flavitaeniatiatus .
bishai h . m . and y . b . abu gideiri . 1965a . studies on the biology of genus synodontis at khartoum . i . age and growth . hydrobiologia 26 : 8597 .
bishai h . m . and y . b . abu gideiri . 1965b . studies on the biology of genus synodontis at khartoum . ii . food and feeding habits . hydrobiologia 26 : 98113 .
featherfin synodontis ( eupterus ) is a relatively peaceful community fish , that cohabitates in my 90g tank with 5 bumblebee gobies , one gold nugget pleco , one zebra . . . ( more ) alexander
featherfin synodontis ( eupterus ) is a relatively peaceful community fish , that cohabitates in my 90g tank with 5 bumblebee gobies , one gold nugget pleco , one zebra pleco and one gold line pleco .
synodontis courteti pellegrin 1906 in honor of m . ( probably monsieur ) courtet , member of french 1902 - 1903 mission to study the region between ubangi river and lake chad , during which type was collected
microsynodontis boulenger 1903 micro - , small , referring to small size of m . batesii ( 10 cm tl ) , i . e . , a small synodontis ( all other species are small , too )
synodontis robertsi poll 1974 in honor of ichthyologist tyson r . roberts ( b . 1940 ) , who helped collect type during a national geographic society expedition to zaire ( now democratic republic of the congo ) in 1973
synodontis serpentis whitehead 1962 snake , allusion not explained , perhaps referring to marbled pattern on caudal peduncle of juveniles ( e . schraml , pers . comm . ) , which resembles the marbled pattern seen on many constrictors
wright , j . j . and l . m . page . 2006 . taxonomic revision of the lake tanganyikan synodontis ( siluriformes : mochokidae ) . the bulletin of the florida museum of natural history 46 : 99154 .
synodontis polli gosse 1982 in honor of belgian ichthyologist max poll ( 1908 - 1991 ) , for his revision of the genus [ replacement name for s . eurystomus matthes 1959 , preoccupied by s . eurystomus pfeffer 1889 ]
article supplied by alex gourgiotopoulos of kingston , ontario - the featherfin synodontis originates from the rivers of the white nile in africa . it is also know as the squeaker synodontis or the featherfin squeaker . the featherfin is a catfish whose name originates from the greek words “syno” meaning “close” and “odontis” meaning “tooth” , which refers to the teeth of the lower jaw of the fish that are spaced close together . the second attribute of its name , “eupterus” , refers also to the greek word “beautiful wings” , which refers to its dorsal fin . the featherfin belongs to the family of mochokidae and shares its place among approximately 170 species , 50 of which belong to the same group of synodontis .
wright , j . j . and l . m . page . 2008 . a new species of synodontis ( siluriformes : mochokidae ) from tributaries of the kasai river in northern angola . copeia 2008 ( 2 ) : 294300 .
the high worm burden in the intestine of the fish may be due to its omnivore nature . khalil ( 1971 ) , van as and basson ( 1984 ) , reported that a variety of adult stage tapeworms occur in native african fish especially the caryophyllaeidae as well as one amphilinid representative , the segmented pseudophyllideans , and proteocephalidae . these findings coincide with the present study which also isolated caryophyllaeid and proteocephalid cestodes from s . clarias .
willoughby , n . g . 1974 . the ecology of the genus synodontis ( pisces : siluriodei ) in lake kainji , nigeria . ph . d . thesis , university of southampton , u . k . 288 p . [ links ]
koblmüller , s . , c . sturmbauer , e . verheyen , a . meyer , and w . salzburger . 2006 . mitochondrial phylogeny and phylogeography of east african squeaker catfishes ( siluriformes : synodontis ) . bmc evolutionary biology 6 : 49 .
synodontis acanthomias boulenger 1899 acanthus , thorn ; omias , perhaps from the greek omos , shoulder or humerus , referring to humeral process armed with spines ( name may also refer to s . omias , to which this species had incorrectly been identified )
was described by boulenger in 1901 . they inhabit much of central africa , including nigeria , chad , sudan , ghana , mali , niger , and cameroon . they are found in the famous white nile river system as well . other common names they are known by include featherfin catfish , featherfin synodontis , synodontis lace catfish , and lace cat . due to their wide distribution they are not considered threatened and are listed as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list of endangered species .
table 1 shows the presence of gastrointestinal helminth infections in relation to sex of s . clarias in lekki lagoon , lagos , nigeria . a total of 196 male specimens were examined and 97 were infected with helminth parasites , which shows an infection of 37 . 8 % of the total sample . a total of 166 female specimens were examined and 43 were infected with helminth parasites , which shows an infection of 23 . 5 % of the total sample .
se muestrearon aleatoriamente un total de 362 especímenes de synodontis clarias , los cuales fueron sometidos a análisis parasitológicos . los especimenes fueron recolectados durante un período de un año del lago lekki , nigeria . la existencia de infecciones gastrointestinales fue de un 38 . 7 % del total de especímenes examinados , lo cual representó 114 especímenes infectados con parásitos helmintos . los gusanos helmintos encontrados incluyen dos céstodos , especies de proteocephalus , wenyonia acuminata , y una especie de nemátodo , raphidascaroides sp . los especímenes machos ( 196 ) presentaron una tasa de infección mayor ( 37 . 8 % ) que la presentada por hembras ( 23 . 5 % ) . la cantidad total de gusanos parásitos fue alta ( 678 ) y fue independiente del sexo y la talla del pez .
friel , j . p . , and j . p . sullivan . 2008 . synodontis woleuensis ( siluriformes : mochokidae ) , a new species of catfish from gabon and equatorial guinea , africa . proceedings of the academy of natural sciences of philadelphia 157 : 312 .
friel , j . p . and t . r . vigliotta . 2006 . synodontis acanthoperca , a new species from the ogôoué river system , gabon with comments on spiny ornamentation and sexual dimorphism in mochokid catfishes ( siluriformes : mochokidae ) . zootaxa 1125 : 4556 .
synodontis ornatissimus gosse 1982 very ornate or decorated , referring to its “striking” coloration ( translation ) , with many black spots on body and dorsal fin and black bands on tail [ replacement name for s . ornatus boulenger 1920 , preoccupied by s . ornatus pappenheim 1914 ]
de weirdt , d . , e . vreven , and y . fermon . 2008 . synodontis ngouniensis , a new species ( siluriformes : mochikidae ) from ngounié and nyanga basins , gabon and republic of congo . ichthyological exploration of freshwaters 19 ( 2 ) : 121128 .
synodontis vanderwaali skelton & white 1990 in honor of zoologist ben van der waal , university of venda ( south africa ) , who collected type , for his donations of fishes from northern namibian rivers to the j . l . b . smith institute of ichthyology and the albany museum
nine genera and approximately 200 valid species are currently recognized . some fossilized pectoral spines have been attributed to synodontis , but none of them are described as new . phylogenetic relationships among the mochokid genera were investigated by vigliotta ( 2008 ) who found that chiloglanis is possibly a paraphyletic assemblage , that synodontis must include s . membranaceous and s . batensoda ( formerly placed in hemisynodontis and brachysynodontis respectively ) and that the reciprocal monophyly of atopochilus and euchilichthys are questionable at best ; all remaining genera are recovered as valid and monophyletic . the general relationships between mochokid genera are illustrated in the phylogeny below .
comments by lemulepr : - this fish is very beautiful . but as most big mouth fish , they will eat whatever fits inside it . thats why most people recommend to not mix small tetras with cichlids . the thing with the neons is that they are small , not so fast , and during the night they tend to
sleep
in the bottom . synodontis are kind of nocturnal , so probably they found a snack there . guppies appear bigger because their tails and tend to stay on the top , where is safer in this case ( this is only my opinion ) . synodontis require a 50 gallon tank , as they can grow big . if you want to keep the synodontis , think about adding bigger tank mates . can be other cichilds or bigger tetras , like the congo , emperor , buenos aires , black skirts , etc . rainbows are medium size and fast moving . keep an eye on the guppies , but there is always something about the guppies that help them survive with weird tanks mates , with bigger tanks , better fish behavoir ( my opinion ) . hth pd : synodontis like hidding , so provide a
cave
. be careful with its spikes , as they can harm you when they protude through the fish net .
even more peculiar is the habit of some species of synodontis that are known to swim upside - down . this habit seems to be correlated with feeding while upside - down at the water’s surface ( bishai & abu gideiri , 1965b ) , but upside - down catfishes will rest and swim in the inverted position on a regular basis . chapman et al . ( 1994 ) showed that an upside - down posture near the surface also facilitates respiration in poorly oxygenated water . while the genus synodontis presents the most well - known species with their fascinating behaviors and natural histories , the family is actually much more interesting when taken as a whole .
synodontis ricardoae seegers 1996 in honor of cicely kate ricardo ( later ricardo - bertram , 1912 - 1999 ) , who , together with ms . r . j . owen , collected in the lake rukwa drainage ( where this species occurs ) and co - authored several important papers on the fishes of east and central africa
recently , i added one synodontis angelicus after changes in the tank , that made it more structurally complex ( meaning adding more hiding spaces in the form of rocks and caves , but also mopani wood - specially treated , so it doesnt give the water a tea colour , but it maintains its nutritional characteristics . - )
s . clarias is also a non - guarding , substratum and open water egg scatterer , oviparous , and distinct pairing during breeding ( breeder and rosen 1966 ) . this fish species has been reported to occur in different ecosystems such as benue river , ( paugy and roberts 1992 ) , in the zoogeographic realm of ethiopia ( gosse 1986 ) , in kainji lake ( willoughby 1974 ) , in lake chad ( gosse 1986 ) , in niger , ( paugy et al . 1994 ) , and in the nile river , senegal and volta ( gosse 1986 ) . the genus synodontis belongs to the family mochokidae and is the most common for commercial purposes ( reed et al . 19 67 ) . twenty - one species of this genus have been reported in nigerian inland waters and most of these have also been found within the sudanean and guinean zones ( mcconnell 1965 , reed et al . 1967 ) .
nematode species of the genera raphidascaroides have not been documented to infect any species of synodontis . akinsanya et al . ( 2007 ) , in a comparative study of the parasitic helminth fauna of two fish species , collected species of the nematode genus raphidascaroides from the stomach of gymnarchus niloticus collected from lekki lagoon , lagos , nigeria .
banhawy , m . a . , m . fa . saoud , i . m . anwar & m . k . el - naffar . 1975 . the histopathological effects of tine parasitic tapeworm wenyonia virilis on the ileum and liver of the silurid fish synodontis schall . ann . zool . 11 : 83 - 101 . [ links ]
these synodontis are not picky about their aquarium conditions . little maintenance has to be done to keep them in good condition . regular siphoning of the gravel is recommended to remove waste and keep the tank in a clean state . the recommended water change is 10 - 15 % every other week to keep up with the bio - load . .
beyond information gleaned from captive breeding of certain species of synodontis , very little is known about reproduction in mochokids . the best studied mochokids in this regard are most likely nile river synodontis ( including s . membranacea and s . batensoda , previously placed in other genera ) . still , details are limited ; the studies indicate that spawning occurs from july to october , which coincides with the flooding season , and that pairs swim in unison during spawning bouts ( bishai & abu gideiri , 1968 ) . the most interesting and detailed information on mochokid reproduction relates to a species from lake tanganyika , synodontis multipunctatus , which is a brood parasite of mouth brooding cichlids such as simochromis and haplochromis ( sato , 1986 ; wisenden , 1999 ) . adults of this species spawn in the midst of spawning cichlids and the fertilized catfish eggs are taken into the mouth of a cichlid . the catfish eggs hatch first and will eat the host eggs before they leave the host mouth . most amazingly , this species has been able to parasitize mouth brooding cichlids from south america in captivity ( loiselle , 1998 ) .
all in all not a beginners fish , not in the sense of managing to keep them , but of their aggressive behavior towards other inhabitants in the community tank . best left to catfish enthusiasts who know the nature of this animal and can spot problems and are on hand to remedy them , such as moving from the tank any fish that is getting bullied . i am not being pessimistic here as i think that the genus synodontis is a fascinating group of fish and my tanks have always housed one or two as their interaction in the tank when feeding or just going about their business is worth it alone in keeping them . the side map shows where the first discovery of synodontis acanthomias was made by boulenger in 1899 .
featherfin catfish prefer living near muddy or rocky bottoms of rivers in their natural habitat , preying upon insect larvae and even eating algae . they prefer moderately fast flowing rivers . like most catfish , they are primarily scavengers and will eat most available items that are edible . featherfin synodontis enjoy each other’s company in the wild and often live in small , fluctuating groups .
would it be ok to keep a featherfin squeaker in a 55 gallon tall tank with 1 yoyo loach ( i lost the rest to skinny disease ) , 1 banjo catfish , 3 johanni cichlids , 1 synodontis nigritis , and 1 upside down cat . could i get a featherfin squeaker , and two peacock eels as well ? ? ? thanks ! - ? ? ?
dorsal view of heads illustrating sexual dimorphism of the opercular spine in synodontis acanthoperca : a . cu 89005 , male holotype , 44 . 1 mm sl ; b . cu 89006 , female paratype , 40 . 4 mm sl . the pectoral spines in both specimens have been removed from the images to make the margins of the head more distinct against the background . scale bar equals 1 mm . ©
little is known about the ecology of most mochokids . what is known pertains mostly to diet and is biased towards species of synodontis . stomach contents from synodontis have included insects , nematodes , crustaceans , mollusks , annelids , seeds , algae , diatoms , fish scales and , incidentally , sand ( bishai & abu gideiri , 1965a ; bishai & abu gideiri , 1965b ; winemiller & kelso - winemiller , 1996 ; sanyanga , 1998 ) . from observations of stomach contents , the diet of most mochokids is probably very similar ; that is , they are omnivores . for some of the larger sucker - mouthed species ( i . e . , atopochilus and euchilichthys ) the stomach contents contain a high proportion of silt , algae and detritus . for these taxa it seems likely that scraping or grazing is the predominant method of feeding .
the featherfin squeaker enjoys the company of its own genus , but like the majority of synodontis they have an intricate hierarchy system , mainly based on size . the most dominant featherfin will get the best hiding place . the ' species internal ' bullying is rarely life threatening but can cause substantial stress which may lead to illness . watch for any individual fish getting bullied too much . featherfins are often an excellent addition in african cichlid tanks .
synodontis are known as squeaker catfish because they produce a squeaking sound by rubbing the spines of the pectoral fins into grooves on the shoulders . they use this sound as a warning to both predators and competitors during spawning time . like their relatives the upside - down catfish , they can also swim upside down at will . for idedntification , their distinctive characteristics are the long , flowing fins , delicately spotted body , and their eventual adult size .
the mochokidae are a family of african catfishes known commonly as ‘squeakers’ and ‘upside - down catfishes . ’ these common names refer to some unusual habits of certain members of the large genus synodontis . the name squeaker refers to the fact that , when agitated , many species in the genus are capable of making a squeaking noise by stridulation of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle ( jubb , 1967 ) ; stridulation is also apparent in mochokiella paynei and some species of atopochilus .
how to cite this article : midhat a . el - kasheif , mohammad m . n . authman and seham a . ibrahim , 2012 . environmental studies on synodontis schall ( bloch and schneider , 1801 ) ( pisces : siluriformes : mochokidae ) in the river nile at gizza sector , egypt : biological aspects and population dynamics . journal of fisheries and aquatic science , 7 : 104 - 133 . doi : 10 . 3923 / jfas . 2012 . 104 . 133 url : urltoken
featherfin catfish have a flattened underside and triangular flanks leading up to their sharp , spined dorsal fin that develops lacy extensions on the adults . the barbels are quite pronounced and very flexible allowing them to seek food and warn other competitors off with a ‘tickle’ . these catfish are often spotted or patterned with varying degrees of browns and sometimes grays . called featherfin synodontis , they are particularly noted for their huge , feathery fins . because featherfins can range greatly in color , they can easily be confused with similar
freshwater fishes are important and valued resources for food , sport and ornament ( authman et al . , 2009 ) . catfishes of the genus synodontis , belonging to the family mochokidae , support the commercial fisheries in egypt ( mekkawy and hassan , 2011 ) . so , the present investigation into the biology of s . schall was meant to shed more light into the dynamics of its populations , in the river nile at gizza , for understanding their role in biodiversity , as well as their fishery development in egypt .
the featherfin is quite hardy and can be forgiving and accommodating to a variety of water conditions and tankmates ( since it has the protection of his spiked fin ) , making it an ideal beginner ' s fish . it is relatively peaceful in temperament , and despite its omnivorous nature , hardly ever bothers other bottom dwellers even if they are very small in size , but can be picky with its tankmates , harassing the unlucky one that it dislikes . synodontis eupterus is also quite moody in attitude , therefore it should have caves to dwell in and feel at ease . they usually like a piece of bogwood or a raised area at the bottom of the tank , preferably to overview the tank from a pot of clay and to patrol to show who is the boss . it is not advised to put more than one of its species in a tank , since it can be very territorial with its own and it is a loner . nevertheless , other species of synodontis can be added , but keep in mind the prospect of aggressive behaviour toward some synos and also some plecos .
buenos aires tetra , danios , dwarf gourami , emperor tetra , flame tetra , harlequin rasbora , head and tail light tetra , kuhli loach , mollies , platy , red eye tetra , rosy barb , sailfin molly , serpae tetra , silver dollar , silver hatchetfish , silver tip tetra african and south american cichlids , provided they are not small . caution should be used in combining with other synodontis and plecos , as the featherfin can sometimes be aggressive toward these . there are sad stories out there about the plight of neon tetras with the featherfin .
synodontis acanthomias is found in the rivers of the congo basin of africa in the country of zaire which is now renamed the democratic republic of the congo . it was first discovered by boulenger in 1899 in boma , leopoldville , just south of the capital kinshasa on the congo river near the confluence with the south atlantic ocean in the aforementioned country . the holotype resides in the natural history museum , london . as mentioned previously this is quite an aggressive syno and can grow quite large . its certainly not in the same league as s . schall but never the less still a bit of a ' grump ' when housed especially with its own kind .
featherfin synodontis are omnivores that feed on insect larvae , algae , and any other foods source they can scavenge in the wild . in the aquarium they are not hard to feed at all . they are enthusiastic eaters will consume nearly any food they can locate with a rambunctious attitude . even though they prefer to be under cover during day time , the tantalizing smell of food in the water will often bring them out of their domain for a good feasting time . meaty foods , vegetable tablets , and anything in between will be appreciated by these hardy eaters . brine shrimp and blood worms ( either live or frozen ) , or even small earthworms are an excellent once a week snack .
we studied the effects of illumination and alarm pheromone on emition of specialized electric discharges in the broadhead catfish clarias macrocephalus ( clariidae , siluriformes ) during aggressive - defensive interactions . the discharges were recorded with a special hardware in two adult fish of a similar size placed into an aquarium , during a period of 24 h , under alternating 30 - min - long light ( 700 lx ) and dark periods . the electrical activity of the broadhead catfish was found to be higher in the dark than under the light ; by the end of the trial , the frequency of electrical discharges gradually decreased . the overall number of discharges recorded in different pairs of the fish was significantly different , which is evidence of individual variability in the electrical activity . changes in the illumination regime in many cases increased the emition of electrical discharges , which could be a result of a stress - response . however , the stimulation of the fish by alarm pheromone ( extract of the skin , 0 . 5 g / l ) caused no pronounced changes in the electrical activity . it is supposed that aggressive motivation caused in the broadhead catfish by the presence of another individual of the same species dominated over the defensive response initiated by the alarm pheromone and , thus , dominated in the development of the electrical response .
a minimum 50 gallon aquarium is recommended for a full sized featherfin squeaker . this synodontis catfish enjoys a tank with lots of hiding places , particularly driftwood . they have fun chasing each other around all the tunnels and holes , while feeling secure under the driftwood . once they find their favorite spot , they will stay there much of their lives unless the tank is revamped or a competitor out competes them for the space . porous rocks , such as the tufa used for african cichlid tanks , are also welcomed by these catfish . substrate should be sand or some type of smooth gravel to reduce the chance of barbel damage . plants also provide cover , but they must be tough and resilient since these catfish often shove away anything in their path .
the river nile is considered one of the most important fishery resources in egypt ( authman et al . , 2009 ) . it contributes about 7 . 99 % ( 87335 tons ) of the annual total egyptian fish production ( gafrd , 2009 ) . according to bishai and khalil ( 1997 ) survey , 71 fish species have been recorded in the nile system from egypt , 22 species are common in the commercial catch while 49 are rare ( el - kasheif et al . , 2007 ) . among the nile fishes , fishes of family mochokidae ( squeakers and upside - down catfishes ) ( nelson , 2006 ) are one of the most common groups and includes 4 genera and 7 species in egypt ( bishai and khalil , 1997 ) one of these species is synodontis schall .
pigmentation and patterning of mochokid skin is also diverse . mochokids are popular in the pet trade because they have showy colors , sharply contrasting patterns like stripes and polka - dots and , quite often , extravagant fins . as some of the largest and most active mochokids , species of synodontis display an amazing array of patterns and pigmentation that may , in some cases , serve as visual cues to conspecifics . it might also be true that the bright , contrasting coloration found in some species serves as a warning to predators . like many catfishes , some mochokids possess specialized poison glands for delivering offensive chemicals along with a ‘stick’ by the pectoral spine ; anecdotal accounts indicate that these wounds can be very painful . however , field studies that might demonstrate function of these varied patterns have not been done .
all species in the genus synodontis have a hardened head cap that has attached a process ( humeral process ) which is situated behind the gill opening and pointed towards the posterior . the dorsal fin and pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated . caudal fin is always forked . there is one pair of maxillary barbels , sometimes having membranes and occasionally branched . the two pairs of mandibular barbels are often branched and can have nodes attached . the cone - shaped teeth in the upper jaw are short . s - shaped and movable in the lower jaw . these fish produce audible sounds when disturbed rubbing the base of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle . a species made distinctive by its red tail . both sexes have this although it is not clear if it is present in young fish .
many mochokid species exhibit obvious sexual dimorphism . for example , many species in the genus chiloglanis show dimorphism of the caudal and anal fins ( roberts , 1989 ; seegers , 1996 ; friel & vigliotta , 2006 ) ; some chiloglanis also display sexual dimorphism of the cleithral process , wherein males possess a greatly enlarged process shielding the flank . in the closely related genus atopochilus , sexual dimorphism of the anal fin is sometimes evident . some mochokids exhibit spiny ornamentation of the skull roof bones , opercular series and pectoral girdle ( friel & vigliotta , 2006 ) . in the case of synodontis acanthoperca , a spine found at the rear of the opercle is , itself , sexually dimorphic . the spines of males are much larger than those of females . this is also true for mochokiella paynei ( personal observation ) , which was previously unknown to possess opercular spines or exhibit sexual dimorphism .
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catalogue of the fresh - water fishes of africa in the british museum ( natural history ) . .
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the root of the current tree connects the organisms featured in this tree to their containing group and the rest of the tree of life . the basal branching point in the tree represents the ancestor of the other groups in the tree . this ancestor diversified over time into several descendent subgroups , which are represented as internal nodes and terminal taxa to the right .
you can click on the root to travel down the tree of life all the way to the root of all life , and you can click on the names of descendent subgroups to travel up the tree of life all the way to individual species .
for more information on tol tree formatting , please see interpreting the tree or classification . to learn more about phylogenetic trees , please visit our phylogenetic biology pages .
mochokid catfishes are currently restricted to the freshwaters of africa , but are nearly ubiquitous in the habitable waters of the continent . a high degree of morphological diversity allows mochokid catfishes to inhabit some of the fastest flowing streams and cataracts to the widest and deepest stretches of the congo river . mochokids also inhabit the massive african rift lakes like tanganyika , victoria and nyasa . the greatest diversity of mochokids almost certainly occurs in the congo river and its numerous tributaries , but they are also found in many of the rivers and lakes of western africa , southern africa , eastern africa and in the nile . like a handful of other catfishes , some mochokids are known to swim in mid - water ; other members of the family are primarily benthic . likewise , some mochokids shoal while others are rather solitary . as a rule they are most active during the night , but they can be found hiding amongst plants , logs and other submerged structure during the day .
lateral view of atopochilus vogti , illustrating typical body shape in sucker - mouthed mochokids ; cu 93752 . ©
vigliotta ( 2008 ) provides several synapomorphies as diagnostic features for the mochokidae including : absense of the ascending process of meckel’s cartilage ; a shortened horizontal process of meckel’s cartilage ; coronomeckalian extremely reduced or even absent ; absence of a coronoid process ; absence of an interhyal ; presence of a pectoral locking foramen ( absence / reversal in most suckermouthed species ) ; seven pelvic - fin rays ; fusion of upper caudal - fin elements ( absence / reversal in atopochilus and euchilichthys ) ; a reduced number of mandibular sensory canal pores ( 3 or fewer ) ; and distinctive , ramified inner and outer mandibular barbels ( absence / reversal in suckermouthed mochokids where these barbels are partially or completely incorporated into an expanded lower lip ) .
1a . lips and barbels modified into oral disc ( fig . 27c ) ; postcleithral process short ( fig . 22c ) ; 5 infraorbitals ( figs . 2c , 4b ) ; pelvic - fin origin at vertical at end of dorsal - fin base . . . 2
1b . lips and barbels not modified into oral disc ; postcleithral process quite long ( fig . 22b ) ; 4 infraorbitals figs . 2b , 4a ) ; pelvic - fin origin beyond end of dorsal - fin base . . . 5
2a . mandibular teeth bunched ( in bouquet ) at midline ( fig . 3d in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) in or spread across mouth opening in one or two discrete rows ( fig . 3e–f in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) ; eyes without free orbital margin ; mandibular sensory - canal absent ; 4 to 6 dorsalfin rays ( typically 5 ) ; 5 to 7 branchiostegal rays ( typically 5 or 6 ) … chiloglanis
2b . mandibular teeth spread across mouth opening in more than two discrete rows ( fig . 3a–c in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) ; eyes with free orbital margin ; mandibular sensory canal present , with 2 pores on each side ; 6 to 7 dorsal - fin rays ; 7 to 8 branchiostegal rays . . . 3
3a . small anteriorly directed pocket underneath lower lip produced by folds of skin ( fig . 4a in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) ; width of mandibular tooth rows less than 66 % width of paired premaxillae ( fig . 3a in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) ; caudal fin emarginate ; gas bladder extremely reduced to two small bulbs ( fig . 5 ) … atopodontus
3b . small anteriorly directed pocket underneath lower lip absent ( fig . 4b in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) ; width of mandibular tooth rows more than 66 % width of paired premaxillae ( fig . 3b–c in friel and vigliotta , 2008 ) ; caudal fin forked ; gas bladder only modestly reduced ( fig . 3c ) . . . 4
4a . mandibular teeth spatulate and unicuspid ( fig . 10c ) ; large posterior pectoral - spine serrae ; one or only a few pores at sites along the cephalic sensory canals ; fewer than 40 vertebrae … atopochilus
4b . mandibular teeth with lengthwise keel creating trowel shape and sometimes bicuspid from wear ( fig . 10a ) ; small posterior pectoral - spine serrae ; several pores at various sites along the cephalic sensory canals ; more than 40 vertebrae … euchilichthys
5a . s - shaped auxiliary dentary teeth present ( fig . 10a , c–f ) ; premaxillary teeth differentiated by shape and size front to back ; lips plicate ( with folds at corners of mouth ) . . . 6
5b . s - shaped auxiliary dentary teeth absent ( fig . 10b ) ; premaxillary teeth showing little , if any , differentiation from front to back ; lips papillose , but not plicate ( without folds ) . . . 7
6b . eyes without free orbital margin ; 12 to 14 principal caudal - fin rays ; tail truncate or rounded ; 6 or 7 pectoral - fin rays ( typically 6 ) ; lateral mandibular barbels with single , gracile branches at each point along length ( fig . 27a ) … microsynodontis
7a . dorsal surface of the head and nuchal shield covered by large ridges and spinous projections ; cleithrum bearing spine in males ; rounded , blunt postcleithral process ; anus and urogenital opening distant ; free orbital margin present ; gill openings open to isthmus ; tips of mandibular teeth spatulate ; medial mandibular barbels with multiple , thick branches at each point along length ( fig . 27b ) ; 8 to 9 pectoral - fin rays ; 17 caudal - fin rays ; more than 40 vertebrae … acanthocliethron
7b . dorsal surface of the head and nuchal shield without ridges and spinous projections ; cleithrum without spine in males ; pointed postcleithral process ; anus and urogenital opening very close ; free orbital margin absent ; gill openings restricted to sides of the head ; tips of mandibular teeth pointed ; medial mandibular barbels with single , gracile branches at each point along length ( fig . 27a ) ; 5 to 7 pectoral - fin rays ; 13 or 15 caudal - fin rays ; fewer than 36 vertebrae . . . 8
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