the toothpad forms a short and broad band. On the lower jaw, or mandible, the teeth of Syndontis are attached to flexible, stalk-like structures and described as "s-shaped" or "hooked". The number of teeth on the mandible is used to differentiate between species; in S. depauwi, there are about 30 to 35 teeth on the mandible. The body color is a uniform brownish, with black spots on the fins and a black streak along each lobe of the caudal fin. Juveniles may show dark marbling colors on the sides. The maximum total 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 known from Pool Malebo, and has been recorded in the Kasai River basin and the Kwango River Basin. The fish is caught for human consumption. 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 depauwi Catfish of Africa Fish of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Fish described in 1899 Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger