Microsynodontis laevigata Ng 2004

Diagnosis: caudal fin truncate; anterior edge of pectoral spine smooth (Ref. 52369, 81251). Body moderately slender; adipose fin moderately long, its base 33.3-35.5% SL; caudal peduncle depth 9.3-11.4% SL; snout length 39-45.7% SL; eye moderate, its diameter 15.6-21.8% SL; both sexes with short (< 0.1 mm) tubercles on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head; supracleithral process not reaching to vertical through posteriormost tip of nuchal shield; dorsal spine curved (Ref. 81251).Description: body compressed; predorsal profile steep; postdorsal body sloping gently ventrally; head depressed and broad, broadly rounded when viewed laterally and with rounded snout margin when viewed from above; eye ovoid, horizontal axis longest; mouth inferior and crescent-shaped; lips plicate; maxillary barbel long and slender, extending to just beyond base of last pectoral-fin ray; inner mandibular-barbel origin close to midline, extending to base of pectoral spine and with 2 short, thin branches on anterior half and 3-4 long, thin branches on posterior half; outer mandibular barbel originates posterolateral of inner mandibular barbel, extending to middle of pectoral-fin base and with 3-4 long, thin branches; gill openings narrow, extending from immediately ventral to posttemporal to immediately ventral to base of pectoral spine; dorsal fin located at anterior third of body, with convex margin; dorsal-fin spine short, stout and slightly curved, smooth on both anterior and posterior margins; adipose fin moderately long; margin slightly convex for entire length and posterior end deeply incised; caudal fin truncate, with i,6,5,i principal rays; anal-fin base located ventral to posterior half of adipose fin, with iv,6-7 rays and convex margin; pelvic fin origin at vertical ventral to posterior end of dorsal-fin base, with slightly convex margin; pectoral-fin spine slightly curved and stout; anterior spine margin smooth along entire length of spine; posterior spine margin with 7-8 strong serrations along entire length; lateral line complete and midlateral (Ref. 52369).Coloration: dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and body medium brown, fading to cream on belly and ventral surfaces; medium-sized brown spots evenly scattered over ventral surfaces; snout with a series of cream spots delineating anterior and posterior nares; cheek region with numerous small cream spots ventral and posterior to orbit; cream band encircling nape at supraoccipital; dorsal third of body with series of 4 cream irregular blotches extending short of lateral midline of body: 1st at middle of dorsal-fin base, 2nd at adipose-fin origin, 3rd at middle of adipose-fin base and last on caudal peduncle immediately posterior to adipose fin; ventral third of flanks with a series of irregular cream blotches; dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins hyaline and sometimes with 1-2 rows of faint spots forming longitudinal brown rows; caudal fin hyaline, with elongate brown spots forming 2-3 irregular columns (Ref. 52369, 81251).

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 33 - 35

Found in a small, shallow blackwater creek, with extremely low water; the substrate being sand and leaf litter, with the area having undergo severe human disturbance (Ref. 52369).

Found in a small, shallow blackwater creek, with extremely low water; the substrate being sand and leaf litter, with the area having undergo severe human disturbance (Ref. 52369).

fisheries:

Microsynodontis laevigata is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it is found in the Ivindo River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.