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. Remarks:
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 (IUCN 2010).
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.
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.
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