short, chisel-shaped teeth. In S. macrostigma, 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. macrostigma, there are about 20 to 26 teeth on the mandible. The base body color is brown on the top surface, becoming lighter toward the underside. The back and sides have large round or oval blackish spots, smaller spots appear on the head and fins. 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 upper Zambezi River basin, and the Okavango River system. 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 macrostigma Catfish of Africa Freshwater fish of Angola Fish of Botswana Freshwater fish of Namibia Fish of South Africa Fish of Zambia Fish described in 1911 Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger