PlanetCatfish.com

Hello everybody !
I am a Syno lover: I already have brichardi, flavitaeniatus, pleurops, robertsi, schoutedeni, always in little groups...
I have a question about S. ornatipinnis : 40cm on Planet Catfish, 20cm in the book "Faszination Welse", 17cm on Scotcat !
How big can this species really grow ?
Thanks for helping !

Good Question...

Also:

Seegers-2008---22 cm TL

Poll-1971--------22 cm TL

Boulenger-1889-20 cm TL


The measurement apparently comes from the below...which I do not have...I would say the above measurements are most likely to be correct going by other similar shaped and patterned Synodontis from the Congo.Could be as simple as a typo. I would like to see the where's and why's of the 40 cm in the publication before I go farther with this.

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.

Birger

Hi,

CLOFFA 2 also mentions Poll (1971) with 22 cm TL.
The other measurement given is 30-50 cm TL and apparently was taken from Matthes (1964): "Les poissons du lac Tumba et de la region d'Ikela. Étude systématique et écologique. Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Série in 8o, Sciences Zoologiques No. 126: 1-204, 2 maps, tab. 1, Pls. 1-6." The size is supposed to be mentioned on page 113, but I haven't been able to double check. Can't help you further there

BTW did you know you can download the first three volumes of CLOFFA on the Horizon Documentation site of IRD ?
http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl ... /15357.pdf
http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl ... /23347.pdf
http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl ... /23348.pdf

Kind regards,
David

Hi to all following this thread.

Matthes (1964) {full reference is in the post preceding this} on page 113 states the following under Synodontis ornatipinnis : "1 ex. geant (plus or minus 500 mm) existe dans la collection du Service des Pecheries, a Bikoro (l. Tumba)."

This is the only primary (not just repeated) reference to such a size for this species that I have ever seen. I am also unfamiliar with anyone else ever making mention of examining this particular specimen. Such a look would certainly prove interesting if this fish still exists at the noted institution.

David, thanks for putting in the links to the three CLOFFA volumes. I was going to add them to the post. For some reason CLOFFA 4 (Cichlids) doesn't appear to be available (unless I missed it).

There is an online version of CLOFFA also available at http://vmcloffa-dev.mpl.ird.fr/

The introduction page to the e-version states the following (In French - translation via Google Translate):

"The preparation of a catalog of African Freshwater fish ( CLOFFA : Check -list of the freshwater fishes of Africa ) was decided in Paris in 1976 , at the Second European Congress of Ichthyologists . This bibliographic catalog is obviously not wildlife , but an update on our taxonomic knowledge listing the recognized valid by specialist species . This is a useful and necessary step a better understanding of African fish that has already formed the basis for the preparation of regional faunas .
The geographical area affected by the CLOFFA includes the African continent and adjacent islands. Marine or estuarine species returning frequently in fresh water or are making long trips have been taken into account.
Initially, the CLOFFA was published as four volumes published between 1984 and 1991. This electronic version contains the original publication. It is not yet updated for the moment, that is to say that no update has been made for nearly 20 years. The objective is to generate an updated version soon with the collaboration of specialists of African fish. Electronic forms are available to help us make this update and to live this bibliographic database . We think it was expected by many and hope you will find in this " e- cloffa " tool that will allow you to facilitate your research ."

Lee F.

Hi again,

One oversight on my last post: All of the sizes listed by Matthes are in Standard Length (SL). So adding in the caudal fin would make the fish in question even larger by general viewing standards.

Lee F.

And what about the specimens in the hobby ? 20 or 50cm is a notable difference; a 20cm fish can live in a normal tank, while a 50cm one needs a swimmming pool...

Hi again,

Being that you are a Synodontis fan, I'd suggest that you go for the S. ornatipinnis as they are a really nice species to have. As for the potential size to be attained, I'd suggest that you keep the lower end range in mind. Should it (they) get overly large (which I have my doubts about happening) I'm sure that you could find someone willing to adopt them.

One last thought: Over the years some "S. ornatipinnis" that have appeared on the market have been in fact something that is not this species. On at least one group being sold under that name (which really didn't match up visually) that I was able to get a definite area of origin, some kind of person made hybrid was involved. You might be able to find something on this situation in past postings on the site. I know that the Synodontis hybrid topic has been dealt with more than once. Should you decide to go with the fish do your best to make sure that you are getting wild imported fish.

Lee F.

I think I shall try it... Thanks for the help !