PlanetCatfish.com - Rita gogra (Ritidae) Cat-eLog

Tungabhadra River at Hampi, Karnataka, India
Dorsal view.
Close up of head.

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Rita gogra** (Sykes, 1839)
Common Name	Velvet Catfish
Type Locality	Deccan, India.
Synonym(s)	Arius pivamentatus, Phractocephalus gogra, Rita pavimentata, Rita pavimentatus
Pronunciation	REET ah - gow gra
Etymology	The name Rita is derived from the local name of the fish. The name is derived from the local name of the fish, 'gograa' in Maharshtra and 'gograe' in Karnataka. Most of Sykes species are named after regional/local species names.
Species Information
Size	260mm or 10.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Bagrid catfishes of the genus Rita Bleeker, 1854 are found in large rivers throughout the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, and are capable of reaching sizes to 1500 mm TL (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991), although mature specimens of ca. 200-300 mm SL are more commonly encountered. The genus is diagnosed by the following synapomorphies (Mo, 1991): single pair of mandibular barbels, elongated Weberian apparatus firmly sutured to the basioccipital, and the sensory canal on the posttemporal enclosed within the bone. Distinguished by its large eyes, purplish gray color, top of head covered by thick muscle, and vomerine teeth in two broad ovoid patches.
Sexing	Males have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: rivers of Deccan up to the Krishna river system in India. Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters, Krishna (click on these areas to find other species found there) Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters, Krishna, Tungabhadra (click on these areas to find other species found there) Indian waters, Ken (click on these areas to find other species found there) Indian waters, Karnataka State Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Indian waters, Madhya pradesh waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2010.
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily eats all manner of live and prepared foods. Will eat smaller fishes. User data.
Furniture	Provide plenty of driftwood as hiding places.
Compatibility	Although a fairly peaceful fish, it will eat smaller tankmates and is therefore best kept only with large, robust fishes. Larger cyprinids (e.g.Osteochilus) and larger spiny eels (Mastacembelus) are ideal tankmates.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1838 (pt 6) (for 27 Nov. 1838), pp 164.
Registered Keepers	There are 3 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up R. gogra on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.247.136.932
Last Update	2020 Sep 20 04:38 (species record created: 2002 Oct 02 00:00)