Microsynodontis hirsuta
Microsynodontis hirsuta 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 hirsuta is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ntem 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 4. 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, acutely 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 hirsutus can be distinguished from all congeners in having long (vs. short) tubercles on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head (Fig. 3) and a straight (vs. gently curved) dorsal spine (Fig. 2). The tubercles are typically 0.3 mm long in the holotype of M. hirsutus, while in similarsized specimens of other Microsynodontis, they are about 0.05 mm long; the smaller paratype male of M. hirsutus (28.0 mm SL) has tubercles 0.1 mm long, as compared to 0.05 mm in other male congeners of similar size. The tubercles are 0.05 mm in the larger paratype female, as compared to 0.02 mm in female congeners of the same size. It further differs from congeners except M. batesii and M. polli in having a longer adipose fin (34.6 – 37.9 % SL vs. 21.3 – 35.5). It can be further distinguished from M. polli (n = 9) in having a shorter caudal fin (20.0 – 24.3 % SL vs. 29.6 – 41.6).
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 Nyé River (a tributary of the Ntem River) in northern Gabon (Fig. 7). Habitat. The type locality was a fastflowing creek over a rock / pebble substrate. The water was cool (22 ° C), acidic (pH 5.0) and tanninstained. Syntopic fish included: Mormyridae: Brienomyrus sp.; Distichodontidae: Distichodus sp.; Cyprinidae: Barbus spp.; Amphiliidae: Amphilius longirostris; Clariidae: Clarias jaensis; Mochokidae: Chiloglanis cameronensis; Mastacembelidae: Aethiomastacembelus 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 hirsutus, meaning hairy; in reference to the long tubercles on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head, which gives the species a somewhat hairy appearance of the head. 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. hirsuta is a small fish, reaching a maximum standard length of 6.8 centimeters (2.7 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. hirsuta can be distinguished from other members of the genus Microsynodontis by examining the dorsal spine, and the Tubercles on the head. The dorsal spine is straight, whereas all other species in the genus have gently curved spines. The tubercles on the head are larger than other species in the genus, with an average length of 0.3 millimeters (0.012 in), where other species in the genus of the same size have tubercles that average 0.05 millimeters (0.0020 in) in length. In addition, the adipose fin is longer than other members of the genus.
== 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 hirsuta in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
From the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence records (GBIF.org), with Wikipedia and the Source Library. GBIF species 2344192.