''Microsynodontis'' is a genus of Mochokidae, upside-down catfishes native to freshwater rivers in western Africa. The genus was originally described by British-Belgian zoologist George Albert Boulenger in 1903 based upon the type species ''Microsynodontis batesii''. 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 fish measurement, standard length of . The mouth of the fish faces downward, with broad lips containing Papilla (fish anatomy), 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. Males can be distinguished by the presence of a conical genital papilla immediately posterior to the anus; in females, this papilla is smaller and has a flattened tip. Males also have a much denser aggregation of tubercles 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'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis batesii'' George Albert Boulenger, Boulenger, 1903 * ''Microsynodontis christyi'' George Albert Boulenger, Boulenger, 1920 * ''Microsynodontis emarginata'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis hirsuta'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis laevigata'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis lamberti'' Max Poll, Poll & Jean-Pierre Gosse, Gosse, 1963 * ''Microsynodontis nannoculus'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis nasutus'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis notata'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004 * ''Microsynodontis polli'' Jacques G. Lambert, Lambert, 1958 * ''Microsynodontis vigilis'' Ng Heok Hee, H. H. Ng, 2004

References

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