Synodontis in space research

[Silurus]

Anken, R & R Hilbig, 2009. Swimming behaviour of the upside-down swimming catfish (Synodontis nigriventris) at high-quality microgravity - A drop-tower experiment. Advances in Space Research 44: 217–220.

Abstract

The catfish Synodontis nigriventris often shows a unique swimming behaviour in being oriented upside-down. When swimming near it (e.g., vertical) substrate, however, the animals orient themselves with their ventral side towards this substrate. This tendency is called ventral substrate response (VSR). The VSR does not only override the upside-down swimming behaviour but also the dorsal light response and the ventral light response. In the course of an earlier drop-tower experiment performed at ZARM (Bremen, Germany) using cíchlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus), we had observed that about 90% of the animals revealed sensorimotor disorders (kinetotic swimming) due to the almost complete lack of gravity as a cue for orientation. In order to further assess the importance of the VSR for postural control in S. nigriventris when being located near a substrate, we subjected catfish in relatively small chambers to drop-tower flights. In contrast to our results regarding cíchlid fish, S. nigriventris showed no kinetotic behaviour. This clearly suggests that the VSR overrides even vestibular input and possibly represents the most important single behavioural response in this species.

[Birger]

hehe...Syno's in space, that's great.

[Silurus]

Although it should be titled: “Synos in amusement park ride” (which is essentially what a drop-tower is).

[Suckermouth]

Fascinating. An aquarium book I read ages ago talked about how light should only come from above the tank as fish use light and gravitational cues for orientation, and that the two in conflict would be bad for your fish. Upside-down catfish appear to be an exception to this.

I wonder if this also holds for the unrelated

Mystus leucophasis

.

[syno321]

hehe...Syno's in space, that's great.

Or is this somebody's Muppet flashback to "Pigs in Spaaaaaaace!" You know you secretly always wanted to be Link Heartthrob,heroic captain of the ship!