Rita (genus)

Taxobox
fossil_range = Lower Pliocene - Recent
name = "Rita"


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Rita rita"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Bagridae
genus = "Rita"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1854
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Rita chrysea"
Day, 1877
"Rita gogra"
(Sykes, 1839)
"Rita grandiscutata" †
Lydekker, 1886
"Rita kuturnee"
(Sykes, 1839)
"Rita macracanthus"
Ng, 2004
"Rita rita"
(Hamilton, 1822)
"Rita sacerdotum"
Anderson, 1879


synonyms = "Gogrius"
Day, 1867

"Rita" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Bagridae. It includes six extant species, "R. chrysea", "R. gogra", "R. kuturnee", "R. macracanthus", "R. rita", and "R. sacerdotum", and one extinct species, "R. grandiscutata".cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF]

Distribution

"Rita" species are found in large rivers throughout the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar.cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2004f/zt00568.pdf|title="Rita macracanthus", a new riverine catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from South Asia|first=Heok Hee|last=Ng|journal=Zootaxa|volume=568|pages=1–12|year=2004|format=PDF] "R. chrysea" inhabits the Mahanadi River system in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, India.FishBase species|genus=Rita|species=chrysea|year=2007|month=June] "R. gogra" originates from rivers of Deccan up to the Krishna River system in India.FishBase species|genus=Rita|species=gogra|year=2007|month=June] "R. kuturnee" comes from Peninsular India from Deccan rivers up to Krishna river system.FishBase species|genus=Rita|species=kuturnee|year=2007|month=June] "R. macracanthus" is known from the Indus River drainage in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India. "R. rita" is distributed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.FishBase species|genus=Rita|species=rita|year=2007|month=June] "R. sacerdotum" originates from the Irrawaddy River basin in Myanmar.FishBase species|genus=Rita|species=sacerdotum|year=2007|month=June]

Description

"Rita" species are capable of reach 150 centimetres (59 in) TL; this large size is found in "Rita rita". However, mature specimens of about 20–30 cm (5–12 in) SL are more commonly encountered.

These catfish have a single pair of mandibular barbels, an elongated Weberian apparatus firmly sutured to the basioccipital, and the sensory canal on the posttemporal enclosed with bone.

Ecology

"R. chrysea" occurs in rivers and large streams. "R. gogra" and "R. kuturnee" inhabit large rivers. "R. rita" is a sluggish, bottom-dwelling catfish. It inhabits rivers and estuaries, preferring muddy to clear water. It also prefers backwater of quiet eddies.

"R. macracanthus" feeds on invertebrates and small fishes. "R. rita" is a carnivorous catfish; the bulk of its diet consists of mollusks. In addition, it feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, insects, as well as on decaying organic matter.cite journal|url=http://www.naturalsciences.be/institute/associations/rbzs_website/bjz/back/pdf/BJZ%20136(2)/Volume%20136(2),%20pp.%20155-162.pdf|title=Surface architecture of the mouth cavity of a carnivorous fish "Rita rita" (Hamilton, 1822) (Siluriformes, Bagridae)|first=Madhu|last=Yashpal|coauthors=Kumari, Usha; Mittal, Swati; Mittal, Ajay Kumar|journal=Belg. J. Zool.|volume=136|issue=2|pages=155–162|date=June 2006|format=PDF]

"R. chrysea" spawn during the monsoon months. The breeding season for "R. macracanthus" lasts form June to the end of July, during which the fish migrates to colder waters in shoals.

References