Welcome to Mochokidae - African Squeaker and Suckermouth Catfishes

The Mochokidae are a family of African catfishes known commonly as ‘squeakers’ and ‘upside-down catfishes'. These common names refer to some unusual habits of certain members of the large genus Synodontis. The name squeaker refers to the fact that, when agitated, many species in the genus are capable of making a squeaking noise by stridulation of the pectoral spine against the pectoral girdle (Jubb, 1967); stridulation is also apparent in Mochokiella paynei and some species of Atopochilus.