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Gagata melanopterus Roberts & Ferraris, 1998

Image contributors to this species:

Kamphol Udomritthiruj (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Vertebrae: 39 - 41. Dorsal spine tip not reaching to adipose-fin origin when adpressed. Premaxilla with 2 rows of teeth. Adpressed anal fin fails to reach first lower procurrent caudal-fin rays. Mouth near snout tip; oral opening transverse, entirely ventral to nares; free lips absent. Anal fin with 4-6 simple rays, 10-12 branched rays. Differs from G. gagata in having its dorsal spine not reaching adipose-fin origin (versus reaching and even extending beyond adipose origin when dorsal-spine is depressed); smaller pelvic fin not reaching anal-fin origin (versus reaching anal-fin origin); last anal-fin ray not reaching first lower procurrent caudal-fin rays (versus extending posteriorly to origin of lower procurrent caudal-fin rays); complete bony encapsulation of the swim bladder (versus incomplete); and 2 rows of teeth on the premaxilla (versus 4 rows). Colouration: Body silvery, either without marking or with faint saddles. Fins, except caudal fin, blackened at least distally. Aquarium Care: This is a peaceful species which would be better kept in a group of about 6 specimens with plenty of swimming space. Provide good filtration and aeration. Provide a sand substrate with plants as an option. Diet: Live, frozen and tablet foods. Etymology: The specific name melanopterus: mélanos, genitive of mélas, black; pterus, from pterón, wing or fin, referring to blackened (at least distally) dorsal, anal, pectoral and pelvic fins.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Sisoridae

Distribution:

Asia: Irrawaddy, Rangoon, Sittang and lower Salween River basins, Myanmar. Type locality: Myanmar: Yangon Division, Hlaing River

Size:

15.5cm. (6¼ins)

Temp:

23-26°c (73-79°f.)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

Although there is little information on the global population and its trend for this species, it is still a relatively common species in Myanmar. There are also no perceptible threats currently, although more research is needed in this area. Therefore Gagata melanopterus is assessed as Least Concern at the present, but needs updating, (IUCN 2010).

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2011. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version.
Ng, H.H. 2010. Gagata melanopterus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
Roberts, T.R. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 1998. Review of South Asian sisorid catfish genera Gagata and Nangra, with descriptions of a new genus and five new species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50(14):315-345.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Sisoridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Gagata melanopterus

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