Table 2. Diagnostic characters for Lake Tanganyikan species of Synodontis that lack an axillary pore. Traits not diagnostic within this group (premaxillary
toothpad, secondary branches on medial mandibular barbel) are included to facilitate comparison with species in Table 1.


Mandibular teeth

Spots on body

Fin spine color

Triangles on rayed fins

Pectoral-fin rays

Eye/Snout length

Body depth/SL

Premaxillary toothpad

Maximum TL, mm

Secondary branches
on medial mandibular
barbel

Occipito-nuchal shield
covered with skin

Papillae on body skin

Gut/Body length

Hindgut chamber


S. ilebrevis

 50-66

 Small

 Dark

 Present

 8-9

 26.0-33.4%

 18.2-20.1%

 Interrupted

 150

 Present



 Yes


 Flat, granular

 0.8-1.4

 Absent


S. irsacae

 15-29

 Large

 Dark

 Present

 8-9

 28.7-43.7%

 17.7-28.6%

 Interrupted

 190

 Present



 Yes


 Absent

 0.7-0.8

 Absent


S. lucipinnis

 35-51

 Large

 White

 Present

 8-9

 25.2-35.8%

 15.7-23.9%

 Interrupted

 100

 Present



 Yes


 Absent

 No data

 No data


S. melanostictus

 23-36

 Small

 Dark

 Absent

 9-10

 31.5-38.1%

 20.0-23.4%

 Interrupted

 520

 Present



 No


 Villous

 1.3-1.6

 Present


S. polli

40-70

Moderate to Large

Dark

Present

8-9

25.8-39.3%

20.2-27.0%

Interrupted

180

Present



Yes


Villous

4.0-4.5

Present