Question on schoutedeni

[Birger]

This fish came to me fairly beat up but it has been a couple months and he is now doing fine, eating properly etc.

This is a picture from a while ago, but in the picture you can see a sort of fuzz on his side(both sides have it).

My question is do they have something similiar to odontodes on plecos or is he still healing ?

It does not seem to be going away at all, I do not see anything like this on my other syno's but it may just show up better on this one or maybe is more mature.

Thanks, Birger





[img][img]http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/4233 ... 0506zu.jpg[/img][/img]

[Silurus]

It is not generally recognized, but mochokids are tuberculate to a certain degree (this may be a sexually dimorphic feature).

Compare this picture of my Euchilichthys astatodon:

[Birger]

The tubercles I understand about but it is the area directly behind the humeral process that I am looking at that seems more sort of hairy as opposed to bumpy or does this get lumped in as tuberculate.

I am also thinking it could be just finer tubercles grouped closer together along with the viewing angle that makes it look "fuzzy"

Could very well be I am trying to see more into this than there really is.

Birger

[Silurus]

Some of these are not really tubercles (this includes the area of "fuzz" you see), but longer epithelial projections (shaped like short "hairs"). This is very prominent in some catfishes, especially in fish like Bagrichthys and Bagroides (where the projections impart a velvety appearance to the skin).

[Birger]

Allrighty now I understand, thank you !

[Deedeefish]

this may be a sexually dimorphic feature.

Does this mean that the revision on african Synodontis by Poll (1971) should be treated with reservation?
"Peau villeuse" (villose skin) is as it happens a major characteristic he uses to distinguish (groups of) species.

David

[Silurus]

This is still diagnostic for some species (e.g. S. granulosus), just that males may have a more tuberculate skin.