''Microsynodontis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of upside-down catfishes native to freshwater rivers in western

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. The genus was originally described by British-Belgian zoologist

George Albert Boulenger George Albert Boulenger (19 October 1858 – 23 November 1937) was a Belgian-British zoologist who described and gave scientific names to over 2,000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Boulenger was also an active botan ...

in 1903 based upon the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen( ...

Microsynodontis batesii ''Microsynodontis batesii'' is a species of upside-down catfish native to rivers of Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. This species grows to a length of SL. References * * Mochokidae Fish described in 1903 C ...

''. The name ''microsynodontis'' comes from the Greek word ''mikro'', meaning small, and the Greek term ''synodon'', meaning "with the teeth all growing together".

Description

Species in ''Microsynodontis'' are small, reaching a maximum

standard length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology. Overall length * Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish ...

of . The mouth of the fish faces downward, with broad lips containing papilla. The body shape is cylindrical along its entire length. Little is known about the life cycle or biology of ''Microsynodontis.'' Identifying an individual fish's species within the genus of Microsynodontis can be difficult, but some diagnostic methods have been identifying, including the identification of the color and color patterns, the shape and size of the fins, the shape and size of the snout, the characteristics of the spines of the fish, and the characteristics of the tubercles, which are small, rounded protrusions on the skin of the fish. The number of teeth in an individual has not been demonstrated to be useful in identifying the species in this genus, unlike in other genera of the Mochokidae. ''Microsynodontis'' species express

sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most an ...

. Males can be distinguished by the presence of a conical

genital papilla The genital papilla is an anatomical feature of the external genitalia of some animals. In mammals In mammals, the genital papilla is a part of female external genitalia not present in humans, which appears as a small, fleshy flab of tissue. The p ...

immediately posterior to the anus; in females, this papilla is smaller and has a flattened tip. Males also have a much denser aggregation of

tubercle In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal. In plants A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection ...

s on the head. In ''M. hirsutus'' these tubercles are longer than in the other species. ''Microsynodontis'' species are occasionally imported for the aquarium trade.

Species

There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Microsynodontis armatus ''Microsynodontis armatus'' is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ivindo River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to contain ...

'' Ng, 2004 * ''

'' Boulenger, 1903 * ''

Microsynodontis christyi ''Microsynodontis christyi'' is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it occurs in the central Congo Congo or The Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in ...

'' Boulenger, 1920 * ''

Microsynodontis emarginata ''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. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to conta ...

'' Ng, 2004 * ''

Microsynodontis hirsuta ''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. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to contain o ...

'' Ng, 2004 * ''

Microsynodontis laevigata ''Microsynodontis laevigata'' is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it is found in the Ivindo River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to con ...

'' Ng, 2004 * ''

Microsynodontis lamberti ''Microsynodontis lamberti'' is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where it is found in the Lilanda River. This species grows to a length of SL. References * * Mochokidae Freshwater fi ...

'' Poll &

Gosse Gosse is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bob Gosse (born 1963), American film producer and director * Charles Gosse (1849–1885), Australian surgeon, son of William * Clarence Gosse (1912–1996), Canadian physician and Lieu ...

, 1963 * ''

Microsynodontis nannoculus ''Microsynodontis nannoculus'' is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Equatorial Guinea where it occurs in the Kyé River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believe ...

'' Ng, 2004 * ''

Microsynodontis nasutus ''Microsynodontis nasutus'' 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. The genus Microsynodontis is restricted to the rivers of western Africa (fro ...

'' Ng, 2004 * ''

Microsynodontis notata ''Microsynodontis notata'' 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. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to contain o ...

'' Ng, 2004 * '' Microsynodontis polli'' Lambert, 1958 * ''

Microsynodontis vigilis ''Microsynodontis vigilis'' 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. Taxonomy Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to contain ...

'' Ng, 2004

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5028410 Mochokidae Fish of Africa Catfish genera Freshwater fish genera