Gagata itchkeea (Sykes, 1839)

Family:  Sisoridae (Sisorid catfishes), subfamily: Sisorinae
Max. size:  7.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: India and probably Pakistan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Vertebrae: 34-35. Apparently a small species with a deep body, approximately equal to head length. Eye very large, greater than snout length. Snout blunt; mesethmoid greatly enlarged, more strongly projecting ventrally when compared with congeners. Tympanum large, its width equal to eye diameter. Swim bladder chamber with a greatly expanded dorsal bony roof but no ventral bony enclosure. Jaws with well-developed conical teeth in several irregular rows. Cranial roofing bones more superficial than in any other Nangrina, and covered with thin skin; cranial surface rugose. Posterior cranial fontanel very small, less than 1/3 length of anterior fontanel; lateral fontanels absent; subtemporal fossa absent. Anal fin with 4-5 simple rays, 8-10 branched rays (Ref. 40780).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 27 March 2011 (B2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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