in seven other catfish genera. Fish in the genus Acrochordonichthys have been observed to secrete a mucus with toxic properties from their axillary pore, but there is no scientific consensus as to the exact purpose of the secretion or the pore. S. grandiops has a large, dark-colored axillary pore just below the humeral process. S. grandiops shares the characteristic of most of the Synodontis species of Lake Tanganyika by having a recognizable pattern consisting of dark triangles at the bases of all of the rayed fins, except the anal and pelvic fins which are white, and dark spots on the body that may or may not extend to the belly. The body ranges from light brown to beige, becoming darker on the head and back. The barbels are white, the dorsal and pectoral fin spines are brown to black. The maximum standard length of known specimens is and a total length of . In general in Synodontis species, females tend to be slightly larger than males of the same age. Habitat and behavior In the wild, the species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, which has a temperature range of , and an approximate pH of 8.5 – 9, and a dH range of 4-15. Synodontis species in the lake tend to inhabit mainly the rocky shoreline areas, as well as sandy and shell-covered bottom areas. 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.They practice brood parasitism.They lives among rock piles frequented by various species of mauna: small African cichlids. Courtship behaviour culminates with the female sucking sperm from the male's cloaca. She brings the sperm through her digestive tract to her cloaca, where her eggs meet the sperm.They then rushes into the nest of a cichlid,devours the eggs of cichlids,and deposits their own.The cichlids then raise the catfish as their own. References External links grandiops Freshwater fish of Africa Fish of Lake Tanganyika Fish of Burundi Fish of Tanzania Fish of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Fish described