Synodontis thysi Poll, 1971

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Mochokinae
Max. size:  22.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: Konkouré, Great Scarcies/Kolenté, Little Scarcies and Pampana/Jong rivers in Guinea and Sierra Leone (Ref. 7362, 57223). Also reported from the Rokel River in Sierra Leone (Ref. 13331, 57223).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at most 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels broadly fringed, shorter than head, unbranched and without tubercles, but with a broad, dark brown basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with few, short and thick ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels more numerous, short, subdivided and tuberculate; width of premaxillary tooth plate comprised at least twice in eye diameter; mandibular teeth rather short, numbering 19-37 (29 in the holotype); dorsal-fin spine smooth on anterior margin; humeral process small and triangular, not distinctly keeled, but nevertheless swollen ventrally; adipose fin rather long, but very low and distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin; coloration very dark, caudal fin lobes not black edged (Ref. 57223). Coloration: body more or less uniformly blackish on back and sides, ventral areas light; fins dark brown (Ref. 57223).
Biology:  Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 April 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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