and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked". The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in S. clarias, there are about 6 to 9 teeth on the mandible. The color of the fish is grey to green on the back, white on the underside. The fins are greyish white and the tail is often tipped with red. Juveniles may have small dark marbling patterns on the body and round dark spots on the ventral, anal, and caudal fins. The maximum standard length of the species is . Generally, females in the genus Synodontis tend to be slightly larger than males of the same age. Habitat and behavior In the wild, the species is occurs from Senegal to Ethiopia, and along the entire length of the Nile River. The species is harvested for human consumption. Its habitat is threatened by dams, water depletion, and water pollution. In its natural environment, it is a bottom feeder, feeding on insect larvae, plants, and detritus. The reproductive habits of most of the species of Synodontis are not known, beyond some instances of obtaining egg counts from gravid females. Spawning likely occurs during the flooding season between July and October, and pairs swim in unison during spawning. The growth rate is rapid in the first year, then slows down as the fish age. References External links centralis Catfish of Africa Fish of Ethiopia Fish of Cameroon Fish of Chad Fish of Egypt Freshwater fish of West Africa Fish of Sudan Fish described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus