Gagata melanopterus Roberts & Ferraris, 1998
photo by Freyhof, J.

Family:  Sisoridae (Sisorid catfishes), subfamily: Sisorinae
Max. size:  15.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Irrawaddy, Sittang and lower Salween basins in Myanmar.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Vertebrae: 39-41. Body silvery, either without marking or with faint saddles. Fins, except caudal fin, blackened at least distally. 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) (Ref. 40780).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 December 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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