Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Forms large schools in pools, rivers and smaller streams with muddy bottoms or among vegetation near the shore. Prefers to swim upside-down and will feed in this position as it skims along just under the surface sucking in floating food. The mouth is ventrally located and the teeth are 'fused' together into a rasping patch or plate that is used to scrape algae and slime as well as other types of organisms off the surfaces of the plants, stones, driftwood, etc. Oviparous (Ref. 205).
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Gosse, J.-P. 1986 Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3202)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=3202&speccode=9474
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Distribution
Africa: middle Congo River basin, including Pool Malebo (= Stanley Pool) and the Kasai drainage (Ref. 78218, 82238).
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Gosse, J.-P. 1986 Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3202)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=3202&speccode=9474
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Range Description
Synodontis contractus is known from Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool) and from the Central Congo basin.
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Physical Description
Size
Max. size
9.7 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 3202))
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Gosse, J.-P. 1986 Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3202)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=3202&speccode=9474
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Ecology
Habitat
Environment
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.2 - 7.2; dH range: 4 - 15
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Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
Synodontis contractus is a benthopelagic species. It forms large schools in pools, rivers and smaller streams with muddy bottoms or among vegetation near the shore. Synodontis contractus prefers to swim upside-down and will feed in this position as it skims along just under the surface sucking in floating food. The mouth is ventrally located and the teeth are 'fused' together into a rasping patch or plate that is used to scrape algae and slime as well as other types of organisms off the surfaces of the plants, stones, driftwood, etc. It is oviparous with distinct pairing during breeding (Breder and Rosen 1966).
Systems
- Freshwater
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Life History and Behavior
Life Cycle
Oviparous (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
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Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen 1966 Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p. (Ref. 205)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=205&speccode=1256
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Synodontis contracta
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Synodontis contracta
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2010
Assessor/s
Moelants, T.
Reviewer/s
Brummett, R., Mbe Tawe, A.N., Dening Touokong, C., Reid, G.M., Snoeks, J. Staissny, M., Moelants, T., Mamonekene, V., Ndodet, B., Ifuta, S.N.B., Chilala, A., Monsembula, R., Ibala Zamba, A., Opoye Itoua, O., Pouomogne, V., Darwall, W. & Smith, K.
Contributor/s
Justification
The species is widespread or without major threats throughout the Central Africa assessment region and is assessed as Least Concern.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
No information available.
Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats
Least Concern (LC)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Major Threats
Synodontis contractus is commercially used as an aquarium species.
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Management
Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott 1991 World fishes important to North Americans. Exclusive of species from the continental waters of the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. (21):243 p. (Ref. 4537)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4537&speccode=1255
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Wikipedia
Synodontis contracta
Synodontis contracta, the Bugeye squeaker, is a species of upside-down catfish native to the Congo Basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. This species grows to a length of 9.7 centimetres (3.8 in) TL. This species can be found in the aquarium trade.
References
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2011). "Synodontis contracta" in FishBase. December 2011 version.
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