Home · Sisoridae · Gangetic gagata
Gangetic gagata (Gagata gagata) — Sisoridae

Gangetic gagata

Gagata gagata
Family: Sisoridae

The Gangetic gagata (Gagata gagata) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sisoridae that grows up to 31 cm.

Length
31 cm
Water
Brackish
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Can cause injury
Range
Asia: Bangladesh, India

Want the complete picture on the Gangetic gagata?

Get the app

Description

The Gangetic gagata is a hillstream catfish (Sisoridae) from fast-flowing fresh water of de grote rivieren van het Indische subcontinent in Zuid-Azie. The species grows to about the great rivers of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia cm and has a flattened, grey-brown body with barbels, an inferior mouth and stout dorsal and pectoral spines, adapted to life among stones in flowing water. As a bottom-dweller it searches for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The sharp fin spines can give a puncture wound when handled.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Gangetic gagata?

The Gangetic gagata has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown. Bears sharp spines, plates or strong jaws that can cause cuts or puncture wounds; handle with care.

Where does the Gangetic gagata live?

The Gangetic gagata lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Bangladesh, India

How big does the Gangetic gagata get?

The Gangetic gagata grows to a maximum of about 31 cm.

Is the Gangetic gagata dangerous to humans?

The Gangetic gagata can cause injury; handle it with care. For a cut or puncture from a sharp fin spine: rinse the wound with clean water, apply pressure to stop bleeding and cover with a sterile dressing. Check that no spine fragment remains and watch for signs of infection; for a deep wound update tetanus protection.

More photos

Gangetic gagata (Gagata gagata) — Sisoridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Md Rakibul Islam, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Gangetic gagata?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Gangetic gagata is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Gangetic gagata sourced
Scientific name
Gagata gagata
Family
Sisoridae
Other names
Gangetic gagata; Catfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
31.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Asia: Bangladesh, India sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Bears sharp spines, plates or strong jaws that can cause cuts or puncture wounds; handle with care. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Can cause injury verified
First aid
For a cut or puncture from a sharp fin spine: rinse the wound with clean water, apply pressure to stop bleeding and cover with a sterile dressing. Check that no spine fragment remains and watch for signs of infection; for a deep wound update tetanus protection. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gagata

More from the family Sisoridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Gangetic gagata?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Gangetic gagata is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Gangetic gagata? Get the app