''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 Heok Hee Ng is a Singaporean ichthyologist and researcher of biodiversity at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore. He specialises in Asian catfish systematics with particular focus on Sisoroidea, si ...

Taxonomy

Before 2004, the genus ''Microsynodontis'' was believed to contain only four species, ''Microsynodontis batesii'', ''M. christyi'', ''M. lamberti'', and ''M. polli''. However, when examining previously collected specimens from the lower Guinea region that had been identified as ''M. batesii'', Dr. Ng discovered that the specimens actually consisted of nine distinct species, eight of them previously undescribed. He published the descriptions of the new species in 2004. ''M. notata'' is one of the new species that he described. Although the eight new species have been accepted by the scientific community, there is still some dispute among scientists as to whether the newly described species are actually separate species as the species are extremely difficult to tell apart.

Description

''M. notata'' is a small fish, 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 m ...

of . 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. notata'' can be distinguished from other members of the genus ''Microsynodontis'' by examining the pectoral spine, the length of the caudal peduncle, the size of the eye, the shape of the caudal fin, and the colors on the body. The caudal peduncle is long, making up about 10% to 12% of the standard length of the fish, whereas all other members of the genus, with the exception of ''M. christyi'' and ''M. laevigatus'', have a shorter caudal peduncle, making up about 6% to 10% of the standard length. ''M. notata'' can be distinguished ''M. christyi'' by measuring the size of the eye; ''M. notata'' has an eye that is about 17% to 26% of the standard length, whereas ''M. christyi'' has an eye that is about 14% to 18% of the standard length. ''M. notata'' can be distinguished from ''M. laevigatus'' by the serrated, rather than smooth, leading edge of the pectoral fin spines. It also has a rounded, instead of straight, trailing edge of the caudal fin. ''M. notata'' has numerous faint, dark brown spots present on the body, where other members of the genus do not show spots.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Microsynodontis Notata Endemic fauna of Gabon Mochokidae Fish of Africa Fish of Gabon Fish described in 2004