Mochokidae

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Mochokidae
Synodontis njassae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Mochokidae Jordan, 1923
Genera
Acanthocleithron Atopochilus Brachysynodontis Chiloglanis Euchilichthys Hemisynodontis Microsynodontis Mochokiella Mochokus Synodontis

The Mochokidae are a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes) that are known as the squeakers and upside-down catfish. There are 10 genera and about 188 species of mochokids.^[1] All the mochokids are freshwater species originating from Africa.^[2]

They have three pairs of barbels, with the nasal barbels absent; sometimes, the mandibular barbels may be branched.^[2] The lips are be modified into a suckermouth in Atopochilus, Chiloglanis, and Euchilichthys.^[2] The adipose fin is usually very long. The dorsal and pectoral fins have spines that are usually strong and with a locking mechanism.^[2] They range in size up to 72 centimetres (28 in) SL.^[2] This groups contains many popular species among aquarists, such as Synodontis nigriventris, Synodontis angelicus and Synodontis multipunctatus.

[edit] References

1. ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.