Taxonomy & naming
Synodontis membranaceus was described by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1809 from the Nile in Egypt. The Catalog of Fishes lists it as valid under Synodontis, in the family Mochokidae; the store listed it under the older name Hemisynodontis membranacea, a genus Hemisynodontis that is now treated as a synonym of Synodontis.
The epithet is Latin for membranous, for the flattened, broad membranes along the maxillary barbels.
Morphology
A large mochokid with a long, pointed snout and very long maxillary barbels edged with a membrane, which gives the common name. FishBase gives a maximum of 18 in SL and an overall reported maximum of 19.5 in.
Habitat
It occurs in the Nile basin, Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Niger including the Benue, and the Chad basin. FishBase says adults live in deep water close to shore, and it gives 72–77 °F and a pH of 6.8 to 7.2.
Feeding
FishBase describes an omnivore feeding on plankton and detritus, which may also take surface insects, chironomid larvae, benthic crustaceans and molluscs.
Mating
FishBase records distinct pairing during breeding.
Breeding
The species is an oviparous egg-layer according to FishBase; there are no records of captive breeding.
In the aquarium
A fish for very large tanks, since it reaches half a metre; it is peaceful, shoals, and is best kept in a group. Provide open swimming space and shelter, neutral water at 72–77 °F, and sinking pellets and plankton-type foods.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Synodontis membranaceus as Least Concern in 2020. It is widespread and fished locally in Africa.