WRIGHT AND PAGE: Taxonomic revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis


lacking branches or crenelations; extending at least to
base of pectoral fin. Lateral mandibular barbel extend-
ing to point just short of anterior margin of pectoral girdle,
with 4-5 non-tuberculate branches; lacking secondary
branches. Medial mandibular barbel about 1/2 length of
lateral barbel; with 4-5 pairs of tuberculate branches;
lacking secondary branches.
 Dorsal fin 11,7-8; posterior margin straight. Dor-
sal-fin spine long, striated, nearly straight, terminating in
short black filament; anterior margin smooth; posterior
margin with small serrations distally. Pectoral fin 1,7-8;
posterior margin straight. Pectoral-fin spine roughly
equal in length to dorsal-fin spine, striated, slightly curved,
terminating in short, black filament; anterior spine mar-
gin granulate in adults; many small antrorse serrations
along anterior margin in juveniles; posterior margin with
large retrorse serrations along entire length. Adipose
fin long, well developed, margin convex. Pelvic fin i,6-
7; located anterior to vertical through origin of adipose
fin; tip of appressed fin barely reaches base of anal fin.
Anal fin iii-v,7-9,i; posterior margin nearly straight; base
located ventral to adipose fin. Caudal fin i,7,8,i; forked;
lobes pointed.
 Humeral process narrow, elongated, granulous; pos-
sessing distinct ridge on ventral margin; dorsal margin
concave; terminating in sharp point (Fig. 3A). Large,
dark-colored axillary pore just ventral to humeral pro-
cess. Gut 0.5 times body length (n = 1, UF 160945).
Hindgut chamber absent.
 Coloration. Body slate-gray to olive brown
(Fig.11). Belly ranging from pale yellow to gray. Scat-
tered, small black spots present on juveniles. Maxillary
barbel white. Mandibular barbels white, bases some-
times with scattered dusky pigmentation. Iris copper
colored. Dorsal and pectoral-fin spines brown to black,
filaments black. All rayed fins with black triangles at
base, posterior margins white to yellowish in color. Both
lobes of caudal fin with black bar from base to tip of fin;
posterior margin of fin white to yellowish in color.
 Distribution. Lake Tanganyika (Fig. 12); rare but
widely distributed.
 Habitat. Littoral to benthic zones over shell, sand
and mud bottoms; to a maximum depth of 130 m (Coulter
199 l1a).
 Diet. Almost nothing is known about the diet of
this species. Worthington and Ricardo (1936) reported a
single Limnothrissa sp. (Teleostei: Atherinidae) in the
stomach of one specimen. Many other Tanganyikan
species of Synodontis prey largely on mollusks and al-
gae scraped from rocky substrates. Presumably, S.
granulosus has a similar diet.
 Reproduction. No information exists regarding


 km
 0 50 100
Figure 12. Known distribution of Synodontis
granulosus. T denotes type locality.



the reproduction of Synodontis granulosus.
 Taxonomic Remarks. Synodontis granulosus
is sufficiently distinct that it is one of only two described
Tanganyikan species of Synodontis for which the tax-
onomy has remained unaltered since the original descrip-
tion (the other being S. multipunctatus). Minor differ-
ences in coloration pattern occur throughout its range
(mainly in the color of the fin margins), but they do not
appear to follow any geographic pattern.

 Synodontis ilebrevis n. sp.
 (Figs. 5D, 13, 14, 16; Tables 2, 6)

 Holotype. UF 160942, TL 138 mm, SL 116 mm,
Lake Tanganyika at Chaitika, Zambia, via Pete
Hauschner, Tropical Fish Collector, coll. V.2005.
 Paratypes. (8) UF 162562, TL 128-148 mm, SL
108-121 mm, collection data same as for holotype, (1)
SAIAB 78410, TL 141 mm, SL 118 mm, collection in-
formation same as for holotype, (5) MRAC 78-25-P-
20-24, TL 93-136 mm, SL 79-114 mm, Cape Chaitika, S.
Lake Tanganyika (Zambia); coll. P. Brichard, IV. 1978.
 Diagnosis. -Axillary pore absent; mandibular teeth
50-66; body with moderately sized spots; fin spines dark;
8-9 pectoral-fin rays; black triangles on bases of all rayed