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Scientific Name Rita kuturnee  (Sykes, 1839)
Common Name Deccan Rita
Type Locality Deccan, India.
Synonym(s) Arius hastatus, Phractocephalus kuturnee, Rita hastata
Pronunciation REET ah - koo too er nee
Etymology The name Rita is derived from the local name of the fish. The specific epithet comes from the local name of the fish, 'katarnaa'. Most of Sykes species are named after regional/local species names.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 300mm or 11.8" 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.

Palatal teeth in two slender crescentic bands and dorsal spine smooth anteriorly, except for a few serrations at the base.
Sexing Males have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Peninsular India from Deccan rivers up to Krishna river system.
Indian waters, Kaveri (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters, Krishna (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters, Krishna, Tungabhadra (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Karnataka State Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2010.
pH 6.0 - 7.0
Temperature 22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section 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. Larger cyprinids (e.g. Osteochilus) and larger spiny eels (Mastacembelus) are ideal tankmates.
Breeding Not reported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1838 (pt 6) (for 27 Nov. 1838), pp 164.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 28 04:54 (species record created: 2003 May 27 00:00)