PlanetCatfish.com - Rita rita (Ritidae) Cat-eLog

Albino

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Rita rita** (Hamilton, 1822)
Common Names	Bengal Catfish Whale Catfish
Type Locality	Bengal estuaries.
Synonym(s)	Arius cruciger, Arius ritoides, Pimelodus rita, Rita buchanani, Rita crucigera, Rita ritoides
Pronunciation	REET ah - REE tah
Etymology	The name Rita is derived from the local name of the fish.
Species Information
Size	1500mm or 59.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Bagrid catfishes of the genus Rita Bleeker, 1854 are found in large rivers throughout the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, and are capable of reaching sizes to 1500 mm TL (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991), although mature specimens of ca. 200-300 mm SL are more commonly encountered. The genus is diagnosed by the following synapomorphies (Mo, 1991): single pair of mandibular barbels, elongated Weberian apparatus firmly sutured to the basioccipital, and the sensory canal on the posttemporal enclosed within the bone. Distinguished by its small eyes, purplish gray color, top of head covered by thin skin, and vomerine teeth in two broad ovoid patches.
Sexing	Males have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Indian waters, North Eastern India Waters, Padma, Ganges (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2010.
pH	5.8 - 7.2
Temperature	18.0-26.0°C or 64.4-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily eats all manner of live and prepared foods. Will eat smaller fishes. User data.
Furniture	Provide plenty of driftwood as hiding places.
Compatibility	Although a fairly peaceful fish, it will eat smaller tankmates and is therefore best kept only with large, robust fishes. Extremely large cyprinids like Labeo spp. are ideal tankmates.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges, pp 165, 376, Pl. 24 (fig. 53).
Registered Keepers	There are 5 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.247.136.386
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2003 Jan 11 00:00)