| Conta | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Erethistidae |
| Genus: | Conta Hora, 1950 |
| Species | |
Conta is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Erethistidae. It includes two species, C. conta and C. pectinata.[1]
C. conta is distributed in the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages, India and Bangladesh.[1] C. conta is also listed to originate from Bhareli and Mahananda Rivers, northeast Bengal, Garo Hills, Meghalaya; and Bangladesh; and also Sarda River, Uttar Pradesh.[2] C. pectinata originates from the Middle Brahmaputra River basin, Assam, India.[3]
C. conta occurs in rocky streams at the bases of hills.[4]
Conta can be distinguished from all other erethistids by the presence of a very long and narrow adhesive apparatus on its thorax about six times as it is long. It also has extremely narrow gill openings, a slender body, a serrated anterior margin on the dorsal fin spine, a papillate upper lip, and 9–10 anal fin rays. The eyes are small and located dorsolaterally. There is villiform (brush-like) teeth in both jaws. The pectoral fin spine is serrated anteriorly and posteriorly.[1]
C. conta reaches about 8 centimetres (3 in) TL.[4] C. pectinata grows to about 5 cm (2 in) SL.[5] C. pectinata differs from C. conta in that it has a longer and more slender caudal peduncle and in having anteriorly-directed serrations (instead of antrorse or distally-directed serrations) the anterior edge of the pectoral fin spine.[3]