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Indian gagata (Gagata cenia) — Sisoridae

Indian gagata

Gagata cenia
Family: Sisoridae
LC · Least Concern

The Indian gagata (Gagata cenia) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sisoridae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South Asia
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Indian gagata is a small hill-stream catfish from South Asia, in the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, streamlined body with barbels and large pectoral fins with which it holds position in the current. As a bottom-dweller of sandy, fast-flowing river stretches it searches for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Indian gagata?

The Indian gagata has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Barbels and large pectoral fins; holds its position in the current

Where does the Indian gagata live?

The Indian gagata lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. South Asia

How big does the Indian gagata get?

The Indian gagata grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Indian gagata dangerous to humans?

No, the Indian gagata is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Indian gagata edible?

The Indian gagata is rarely eaten.

More photos

Indian gagata (Gagata cenia) — Sisoridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — R. Mintern (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Indian gagata verified
Scientific name
Gagata cenia
Family
Sisoridae
Other names
Indian gagata verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
South Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insect larvae and small invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Mountain-stream catfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Barbels and large pectoral fins; holds its position in the current sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gagata

More from the family Sisoridae

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