Microsynodontis emarginata
Microsynodontis emarginata Ng, 2004
First described in: Ng, H. H. (2004). The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 531: 1-52.
Microsynodontis emarginata is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ogowe River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Descriptions from checklists and floras indexed by GBIF
description
Description. Biometric and meristic data as in Table 3. Body compressed. Predorsal profile gently convex; postdorsal body sloping gently ventrally. Preanal profile horizontal. Anus and urogenital openings located at vertical through middle of pelvic fin. Skin smooth. Lateral line complete and midlateral. Head depressed and broad, broadly rounded when viewed laterally and with rounded snout margin when viewed from above. Gill openings narrow, extending from immediately ventral to posttemporal to immediately ventral to base of pectoral spine. Gill membranes united to, and attached across, isthmus. Bony elements of dorsal surface of head covered with thin skin. Nuchal shield large and terminating posteriorly with two rounded processes on each side. Supracleithral process thin, extending just short of vertical through posteriormost tip of nuchal shield. Barbels in three pairs. Maxillary barbel long and slender, extending to just beyond base of last pectoralfin ray. Inner mandibularbarbel origin close to midline, extending to base of pectoral spine and with 2 short, thin branches on anterior half and 3 – 5 long, thin branches on posterior half. Outer mandibular barbel originates poste
The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species
diagnosis
Diagnosis. Microsynodontis emarginatus can be distinguished from all congeners in having an emarginate (vs. rounded or truncate) caudal fin (Fig. 9). It also exhibits no noticeable sexual dimorphism in the size and density of the tubercles on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head, unlike all other lower Guinea species of Microsynodontis.
The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species
distribution
Distribution. Known from the upper Ogooué River in southeastern Gabon (Fig. 7). Habitat. The type locality is a very slowflowing creek. Water temperature was 25.4 ° C and the pH was 5.0. Syntopic fish included: Mormyridae: Brienomyrus spp., Marcusenius moorii, Mormyrops zanclirostris, Stomatorhinus walkeri; Characidae: Brycinus sp.; Distichodontidae: Distichodus sp., Nannocharax sp.; Hepsetidae: Hepsetus odoe; Cyprinidae: Barbus spp.; Amphiliidae: Amphilius nigricaudatus, Phractura sp., Clariidae: Clarias spp.; Claroteidae: Parauchenoglanis balayi; Mochokidae: Synodontis sp.; Cyprinodontidae: Plataplochilus terveri; Channidae: Parachanna insignis; Cichlidae: Hemichromis sp.; Anabantidae: Ctenopoma kingsleyae; Mastacembelidae: Caecomastacembelus sp.
The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species
etymology
Etymology. From the Latin emarginatus, meaning notched at the apex; in reference to distinctive shape of the caudal fin. Used as an adjective.
The Microsynodontis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Mochokidae) of the lower Guinea region, west central Africa, with the description of eight new species
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
M. emarginata is a small fish, reaching a maximum standard length of 3.4 centimeters (1.3 in). The mouth of the fish faces downward, with broad lips containing papilla. The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw. The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins are hardened into stiff spines that can be locked into place. The body shape is cylindrical along its entire length. M. emarginata can be distinguished from other members of the genus Microsynodontis by examining the caudal fin. The fin is slightly forked or lobed, whereas all other members of the genus have caudal fins that are either rounded on the trailing edge or with a straight trailing edge.
== References ==
Where it has been recorded
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Microsynodontis emarginata in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
From the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence records (GBIF.org), with Wikipedia and the Source Library. GBIF species 2344186.