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Synodontis ruandae is a species of upside-down catfish native to Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania where it is found in the Kagera River system.[2] It was first described by Belgian ichthyologist Hubert Matthes in 1959, based upon holotypes discovered in the Kagera River at Rusumo, Rwanda.[3] The specific name "ruandae" is derived from its type locality, Rwanda.

Synodontis ruandae
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Mochokidae
Genus:	Synodontis
Species:	S. ruandae
Binomial name
Synodontis ruandae Matthes, 1959

Description

Like other members of the genus, this fish has a humeral process, which is a bony spike that is attached to a hardened head cap on the fish and can be seen extending beyond the gill opening.[3] The first ray of the dorsal fin and the pectoral fins have a hardened first ray which is serrated.[3] The caudal fin is deeply forked.[3] It has short, cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw.[3] In the lower jaw, the teeth are s-shaped and movable.[3] The fish has one pair of long maxillary barbels, extending far beyond the operculum, and two pairs of mandibular barbels that are often branched.[3]

This species grows to a length of 12.8 centimetres (5.0 in) SL although specimens up to 16.2 centimetres (6.4 in) TL have been recorded in the wild.[2][3]

Habitat

In the wild, the species inhabits tropical freshwaters.[2] It is found in shallow waters and vegetation along the edge of the water in the middle and upper Kagera River system.[4] It feeds primarily on insect larvae, and also consumes molluscs.[2][4] Due to a decline in vegetation around the edges of lakes and rivers as a result of agricultural expansion, the species is listed as vulnerable.[4]

References

External links

Data related to Synodontis ruandae at Wikispecies

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