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. ocellifer, there are 20 to 30 teeth on the mandible. The body color is a grey-brown on the back and on the sides, with a white underside. The body and adipose fin show large black and white spots that are either solid black or a black ring on a white background. 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 has been found in the basins of the Chad River, Niger River, Volta River, Senegal River, and the Gambia River. 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 ocellifer Freshwater fish of West Africa Fish of Cameroon Fish of Chad Fish described in 1900 Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger