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I'm sorry I didn't explain why I think this one is a hybrid. For my eye main reason is beginning of adipose fin, with genuine ornatipinnis it should lack down, all hybrids that i have seen(mostly every ornatipinnis offered) adipose is different.

Birger wrote:
I will address this first...I believe that S. ornatipinnis will only grow to the 22 cm TL range as opposed to the 40 cm which comes from a checklist, 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.

Hybrid or real I think this is a safe size for either.

I would say ornatipinnis will grow more bigger than 22cm. My specimen is ~25cm(TL) at the moment and it's less than five years old. With my experience I would say ornatipinnis could easily grow at least 30cm.

Birger wrote:
ps. there are a couple images that have snuck back into S.ornatipinnis page that I think had been moved...3 & 6 for sure

I agree this. As I remember correctly we have been talking these same specimens some years ago.

Here are some photos of my specimen, I got it at June 2012 when was 12cm(TL). As Jools said this species can be very variable, photos below are from same specimen but look at the pattern at its dorsal fin.


More fresh photo some months back:

Right on, thanks Petteri I forgot that you have one now that was wildcaught...that is the humeral process shape I was looking for in a mature fish...and thanks for showing evidence of the size.



Richard, I can get that to you if you would like that series of books from Boulenger...pm me.

Birger