WRIGHT AND PAGE: Taxonomic revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis


ered with skin further separates S. lucipinnis from S.
dhonti, S. granulosus, S. melanostictus, and S.
tanganaicae, all of which also have a much larger maxi-
mum TL (395, 270, 520, and 585 respectively vs. 100
mm in S. lucipinnis). The black triangles at the base of
all the rayed fins further distinguish S. lucipinnis from
S. melanostictus, while the windows at the base of the
triangles further differentiate S. lucipinnis from S.
dhonti, S. grandiops, S. granulosus, S. ilebrevis, S.
irsacae, S. multipunctatus, S. polli, and S.
tanganaicae. Synodontis lucipinnis can be further
separated from S. dhonti, S. grandiops, S. granulosus,
and S. multipunctatus by having an interrupted premax-
illary toothpad (vs. uninterrupted).
 Description. Morphometric and meristic data in
Table 8. Maximum TL 100 mm, SL 80 mm. Body not
compressed. Predorsal profile slightly convex. Preanal
profile slightly convex. Skin on body forming numerous
vertical folds; papillae absent.
 Head slightly depressed and broad; skin covered
with villous papillae; papillae extend onto base of maxil-
lary barbel, pectoral fin and anterior portion of body only.
Snout with bluntly rounded margin when viewed later-
ally and dorsally. Occipito-nuchal shield covered with
skin, terminating posteriorly with wide, pointed process
on either side of dorsal spine, ventrally with wide,
rounded process that extends to upper margin of the
humeral process on either side of body. Eyes dorsolat-
eral; ovoid; horizontal axis longer. Interorbital area flat
to slightly convex.
 Mouth inferior; lips widened and papillate. Man-
dibular teeth 35-51, short, unicuspid; arranged in 6 short,
transverse rows. Premaxillary toothpad interrupted;
primary, secondary and tertiary premaxillary teeth dis-
crete, numerous, arranged in 3, 3, and 1 irregular rows,
respectively.
 Maxillary barbel short; extending at least to base
of pectoral spine; small papillae at base; basal mem-
brane narrow. Lateral mandibular barbel extending to
point just past anterior margin of pectoral girdle; with 4-
6 short, simple, weakly tuberculate branches; usually
lacking secondary branches. Medial mandibular barbel
approximately 1/3 to 1/2 length of lateral barbel; with 4-
6 pairs of tuberculate branches; many secondary
branches present.
 Dorsal fin II,7-7,i; posterior margin straight to
slightly concave. Dorsal-fin spine short, striated, slightly
curved, terminating in a short, white filament; anterior
margin of fin spine smooth; posterior margin with small
serrations distally. Pectoral fin 1,8-9; posterior margin
broadly rounded. Pectoral-fin spine roughly equal in
length to dorsal-fin spine, striated, slightly curved termi-


 28" 30" 32'
 km
 0 so 100
Figure 20. Known distribution of Synodontis lucipinnis.
T denotes type locality.



nating in short, white filament; anterior spine margin
smooth; posterior margin with large, retrorse serrations
along entire length. Adipose fin long, well developed,
margin convex. Pelvic fin i,6; located at vertical mid-
way between posterior base of dorsal fin and origin of
adipose fin; tip of appressed fin does not reach base of
anal fin. Anal fin iv,8-9; posterior margin rounded; base
located at vertical through center of adipose fin. Caudal
fin i,7,8,i; forked; lobes rounded.
 Humeral process triangular; granulous; covered
with many small, villous papillae; poorly-developed ridge
on ventral margin; dorsal margin convex; terminating in
a sharp point (Fig. 4A). Axillary pore absent.
 Coloration in alcohol. Dorsum yellowish to cu-
prous brown, covered with large, irregularly shaped,
black spots (Fig. 19). Belly lighter, with more regularly
shaped black spots. Maxillary and mandibular barbels
white. Iris copper colored. Dorsal and pectoral-fin spines
white, terminating in short, white filaments. All rayed
fins with black triangles at base; posterior margins white.
Triangles have large, lightly colored windows at bases,
most noticeable in dorsal and anal fins. Both lobes of
caudal fin with black bar from base to tip of fin; poste-
rior margin of fin white.
 Distribution. Lake Tanganyika (Fig. 20). Known