Annoying Synodontis Id

[capester]

Hi everyone, I am afraid I am going to the really annoying "can you identify this for me please" post with the terrible picture......To make it worse it is one of the the large brown Synodontis species (of which there are loads!) but he has needle like projections from his fins, especially the dorsal. I have had him a while now living in my sump and he has been growing nicely- he must be around the 10" mark at least. I have been trying to photograph him for ages but he never comes out for long and I managed to see him tonight and couldn't find my camera! Please forgive the crappy phone pic. Ta.

 

[MartinS]

Tough one with such a blurred photo. Doesn't look like the typical hybrid, assume you've had it for some time?
The size and shape of the adipose fin, as well as the humeral process (the bony plate which points backward behind the gill covers) are both useful to help ID these, but I feel you are going to need to get a much clearer shot to get a more definitive ID I'm afraid.

but he has needle like projections from his fins, especially the dorsal.

Regarding this comment - can you descibe in more detail?

HTH
Martin

 

[capester]

Tough one with such a blurred photo. Doesn't look like the typical hybrid, assume you've had it for some time?
The size and shape of the adipose fin, as well as the humeral process (the bony plate which points backward behind the gill covers) are both useful to help ID these, but I feel you are going to need to get a much clearer shot to get a more definitive ID I'm afraid.

but he has needle like projections from his fins, especially the dorsal.

Regarding this comment - can you descibe in more detail?

HTH
Martin

Hi mate,thanks for the reply. I have now found my camera so will stake out the tank for a better pic! The fin is long and thin and where the rays finish a long black spine. It looks very sharp but I don't think its rigid. The pelvic fins have spines that are yellowish too

 

[MartinS]

Both the dorsal and pectoral fins have a 'hard' spine primary spine, I think you mean there are extensions to the fins which appear to make the fins look longer.
I'll await a better picture and we'll go from there.
HTH
Martin

 

[MartinS]

Looks like you got your ID - Synodontis frontosa has been suggested based on the picture above.
Still be keen to see some better pics to confirm.
Martin

 

[capester]

Looks like you got your ID - Synodontis frontosa has been suggested based on the picture above.
Still be keen to see some better pics to confirm.
Martin

On the money with that. I have googled images of the S.frontosa and they are a march. Thanks guys