Upside-Down Catfish

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia 

Phylum: Chordata 

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Siluriformes

Family: Mochokidae

Genus: Synodontis

Synodontis eupterus

Habitat & Distribution : Rivers in Africa

Diet: Algae, moss, organic matter

Size: 20 - 30 cm

Lifespan: 10 - 20 years

Description

Synodontis eupterus is a medium-sized freshwater catfish that features a stout, laterally compressed body with a relatively flat belly. The most iconic physical trait of this fish is its exceptionally large, tall, and sail-like or feather-like dorsal fin, whose ray tips elongate into fine filaments as the fish matures.

Behavior

Synodontis eupterus is known as a peaceful yet territorial fish, with its most unique behavior being the habit of frequently swimming upside down. They highly enjoy swimming or resting underneath decorations (such as driftwood or caves) with their bellies facing upward. This natural behavior helps them forage for food at the water's surface or underneath rock crevices.

Reproduction

Synodontis eupterus reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous) as an egg scatterer, a process that in the wild is heavily influenced by the arrival of seasonal flooding in African rivers. When the breeding season arrives, a pair of fish will spawn and simply scatter their eggs among rock crevices, plant roots, or hard substrates without providing any parental care afterward.

Communication & Perception

Synodontis eupterus possesses a highly complex communication and environmental perception system through a combination of acoustic (sound) capabilities, sensitive hearing, and electroreception. This nocturnally active fish communicates acoustically by rubbing the base of its pectoral fin spines against its shoulder girdle. This mechanical process produces a distinctive creaking or squeaking sound as an alarm call to deter predators or defend its territorial boundaries. Synodontis eupterus can navigate dark and murky river environments, map its surroundings, track prey locations in the mud, and detect the presence of its own kind with high accuracy. This capability is further supported by three pairs of sensitive barbels around its mouth, which are rich in chemoreceptors for feeling and smelling food remnants.

Predator(s)

Crocodiles, Eagles, Goliath Fish