Synodontis budgetti

Like all members of the genus Synodontis, S. budgetti has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin. The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process. The shape and size of the humeral process helps to identify the species. In S. budgetti, the humeral process is 1+1⁄2 times as long as it is broad, with three spines directed backwards. 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 maxillary barbel is straight without any branches, with a wide membrane at the base. It extends 1+3⁄5 the length of the head. The outer pair of mandibular barbels is about twice as long as the inner pair. The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins of Syntontis species are hardened into stiff spines. In S. budgetti, the spine of the dorsal fin is long and slightly curved, about as long as the head, bearing a long filament, smooth in the front and serrated on the back. The remaining portion of the dorsal fin is made up of seven branching rays. The spine of the pectoral fin about as long as the dorsal fin spine, and serrated on both sides. The adipose fin is 3 times as long as it is deep. The anal fin contains five unbranched and seven branched rays. …

In the wild, the species has been found in the Niger River basin. The reproductive habits of most of the species of Synodontis are not known, beyond some instances of obtaining egg counts from gravid females. Spawning likely occurs during the flooding season between July and October, and pairs swim in unison during spawning. As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores, consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes. The growth rate is rapid in the first year, then slows down as the fish age.