"s-shaped" or "hooked". The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in S. melanopterus, there are about 35 to 40 teeth on the mandible. The base body color is dark brown, with dark brown or black fins. Juvenile fish may have some light cross-bands. 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 has been found in the lower Niger River, and basins of the Ouémé River and Ogun River. Its habitat is threatened by oil exploration. 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. As a whole, species of Synodontis are omnivores, consuming insect larvae, algae, gastropods, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and the eggs of other fishes. The growth rate is rapid in the first year, then slows down as the fish age. References External links melanopterus Catfish of Africa Freshwater fish of West Africa Fish described in 1903 Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger