TAXONOMIC REVISION OF LAKE TANGANYIKAN SYNODONTIS
 (SILURIFORMES: MOCHOKIDAE)








 Jeremy J. Wright' and Lawrence M. Page'





 ABSTRACT

The taxonomy of the Synodontis of Lake Tanganyika was investigated by examining 312 museum specimens. Morphometric, meristic, and
nontraditional internal and external characters were examined, resulting in the recognition of 11 species of Synodontis from Lake Tanganyika.
Ten of the species are endemic to the lake basin, and three are new to science. Synodontis grandiops n. sp. is most similar to S. multipunctatus
but is distinguished by measurements of the eye (64.2-81.0% of snout length vs. 44.9-62.0% in S. multipunctatus) and pectoral-fin ray counts
(7 vs. 8 in S. multipunctatus). Synodontis lucipinnis n. sp. is most similar to S. petricola but is distinguished by the lack of an axillary pore and
the presence of light-colored windows at the bases of the rayed fins. Synodontis ilebrevis n. sp. is most similar to S. polli but is distinguished
by the absence of a hindgut chamber, the shortness of the gut (0.8-1.4 times TL in S. ilebrevis vs. 4.0-5.5 times TL in S. polli), and the presence
of short, flattened papillae on the skin (vs. villous papillae in S. polli).



Key Words: Catfishes, Synodontis, Mochokidae, Lake Tanganyika, Africa.





 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Introduction ..................................................... ............................................... 100
 M ethods and Terminology................. ..................................................... 102
 Taxonom ic Descriptions................ ......................................................... 104
 Genus Synodontis........................................................................ 104
 Synodontis dhonti..................... ...................................... ..................... 107
 Synodontis grandiops n. sp..................... .................................................. 109
 Synodontis granulosus..................... ..................................................... 114
 Synodontis ilebrevis n. sp................................................ ...................... 117
 Synodontis irsacae........................... ............................... ................... 122
 Synodontis lucipinnis n. sp........ ....... .................................................1... 26
 Synodontis melanostictus........................................... .......................... 130
 Synodontis m ultipunctatus......................................... .......................... 134
 Synodontis petricola.................................................. ........................... 138
 Synodontis polli..................... ......................................................... 142
 Synodontis tanganaicae.............................................. ............................. 147
 K ey to Species.......................................................................... ...................... 15 1
 D iscussion.......................... ......................................... ........................ 151
 Acknowledgements.............................. ...................................................... 152
 Literature C ited............................. .................................................................... 152






'Florida Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 117800, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7800 <jjwright@umich.edu> <lpagel@.ufl.edu>

Wright, J.J. and L.M. Page. 2006.Taxonomic revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae). Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull.
46(4):99-154. [End of volume]