{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Synodontis victoriae.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=FishBase team RMCA. |author2=Geelhand, D. |date=2016 |title=''Synodontis victoriae'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T60823A47217115 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T60823A47217115.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Synodontis victoriae | authority = Boulenger, 1906 | synonyms = }}
The '''Lake Victoria squeaker''' ('''''Synodontis victoriae''''') is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda where it is found in Lakes Kioga and Victoria and the Victorian Nile in the lower Kagera River and the Malagarasi River drainage.<ref name=fishbase/> It was first described by British-Belgian zoologist George Albert Boulenger in 1906, from specimens collected in the Lake Victoria at Buganga, Uganda and Entebbe, Uganda by Mr. E. Degen.<ref name=boulenger/> The species name ''victoriae'' is derived from the location where the species was originally discovered, Lake Victoria.
== Description == Like all members of the genus ''Synodontis'', ''S. victoriae'' has a strong, bony head capsule that extends back as far as the first spine of the dorsal fin.<ref name=cuvier/> The head contains a distinct narrow, bony, external protrusion called a humeral process.<ref name=planet/> The shape and size of the humeral process helps to identify the species. In ''S. victoriae'', the humeral process is rough, about {{frac|1|1|2}} times as long as it is broad, and acutely pointed.<ref name=boulenger/>
The fish has three pairs of barbels. The maxillary barbels are on located on the upper jaw, and two pairs of mandibular barbels are on the lower jaw. The maxillary barbel is long and straight without any branches, with a narrow membrane at the base.<ref name=boulenger/> It extends almost the length of the head.<ref name=boulenger/> The outer pair of mandibular barbels is about twice the length of the inner pair, and both pairs have slender, simple branches.<ref name=boulenger/>
The front edges of the dorsal fins and the pectoral fins of ''Syntontis'' species are hardened into stiff spines.<ref name=planet/> In ''S. victoriae'', the spine of the dorsal fin is slightly shorter than the head, straight, smooth in the front and serrated on the back.<ref name=boulenger/> The remaining portion of the dorsal fin is made up of six to seven branching rays.<ref name=boulenger/> The spine of the pectoral fin is about the same size as the dorsal spine, and serrated on both sides.<ref name=boulenger/> The adipose fin is 4 to 5 times as long as it is deep.<ref name=boulenger/> The anal fin contains four unbranched and eight branched rays.<ref name=boulenger/> The tail, or caudal fin, is deeply forked, and the upper lobe is longer.<ref name=boulenger/>
All members of ''Syndontis'' have a structure called a premaxillary toothpad, which is located on the very front of the upper jaw of the mouth. This structure contains several rows of short, chisel-shaped teeth. In ''S. victoriae'', the toothpad forms a short and broad band.<ref name=boulenger/> On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of ''Syndontis'' are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked".<ref name=cuvier/><ref name=planet/> The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in ''S. victoriae'', there are 19 to 21 teeth on the mandible.<ref name=boulenger/>
The body color is brown or greyish silver on the back, white on the underside, with large round darker spots, which may be indistinct.<ref name=fishbase/><ref name=boulenger/> Spots sometimes appear on the caudal fin.<ref name=fishbase/>
The maximum standard length of the species is {{convert|35|cm|in}}.<ref name=fishbase/> Generally, females in the genus ''Synodontis'' tend to be slightly larger than males of the same age.<ref name=bishai/>
==Habitat and behavior== In the wild, the species has been found in Lake Victoria and the Victoria Nile basin, including smaller tributaries and lakes.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> It has also been found in the Malagarasi River.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> It is found in shallow waters of lakes and rivers, most often around {{convert|20|m|ft}} of depth.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> The reproductive habits of most of the species of ''Synodontis'' are not known, beyond some instances of obtaining egg counts from gravid females.<ref name=wright/> Spawning likely occurs during the flooding season between July and October, and pairs swim in unison during spawning.<ref name=tolweb/> The population of the species is decreasing, largely due to the competition from introduced Nile perch in its ecosystem.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> It feeds small snails, where it is able to extract the flesh without crushing the shells.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> It also feeds on insects, small fish, and ostracods.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /><ref name=fishbase/> The growth rate is rapid in the first year, then slows down as the fish age.<ref name=bishai/>
==References== {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=bishai>{{cite journal |author1=H. M. Bishai |author2=Y. B. Abu Gideiri |name-list-style=amp |year=1965 |title=Studies on the biology of genus ''Synodontis'' at Khartoum |journal=Hydrobiologia |volume=26 |issue=1–2 |pages=85–97 |doi=10.1007/BF00142257|s2cid=24587047 }}</ref>
<ref name=boulenger>{{cite book | title = Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa in the British museum (Natural history) | author = Boulenger, George Albert | year = 1909 | url = https://archive.org/stream/cu31924024781837/#page/n438/mode/1up | publisher = British Museum | location = London | pages = 421–422}}</ref>
<ref name=cuvier>{{cite book | page = 406 | title = The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization, Volume 10 | author = Cuvier, Georges | publisher = Whittaker and Co. | location = London | year = 1934 | translator-first = Edward | translator-last = Griffith }}</ref>
<ref name=fishbase>{{FishBase | genus = Synodontis | species = victoriae| month = June | year = 2016}}</ref>
<ref name=planet>{{cite web | url =http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=564| title = ''Synodontis victoriae'' Boulenger, 1906 | publisher = Planet Catfish | date = 7 Oct 2006 | access-date = 26 October 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="tolweb">{{cite web | url=http://tolweb.org/Mochokidae/15214 | title=Mochokidae Jordan 1923: African squeaker and suckermouth catfishes | author1=John P. Friel | author2=Thomas R. Vigliotta | name-list-style=amp | date=March 2, 2009 | access-date=19 October 2016 | work=Tree of Life Web Project}}</ref>
<ref name=wright>{{cite journal | title = Taxonomic Revision of Lake Tanganyikan Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) | author = Wright, J.J. | author2 = L.M. Page | name-list-style = amp | journal = Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. | volume=46 | number = 4| year = 2006| pages=99–154}}</ref> }}
== External links == {{Wikispecies-inline|Synodontis victoriae|''Synodontis victoriae''}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3316989}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lake Victoria Squeaker}} Category:Synodontis Category:Fish of Lake Victoria Category:Fish of Burundi Category:Fish of Uganda Category:Freshwater fish of Kenya Category:Freshwater fish of Tanzania Category:Fish described in 1906 Category:Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot