Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total):
7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae:
43 - 44. Gogo atratus is distinguished from
congeners in having a longer snout, 54.8-56.4% of
head length vs. 47.1-54.3%; and faintly mottled dark
gray colouration vs. uniform brown, highly mottled
dark gray and cream, or mottled brownish-gray. It
further differs from Gogo
ornatus in having a
larger eye in specimens larger than 110 mm standard
length, eye diameter 13.0-14.3% of head length vs.
9.2-12.5% (Ref. 75790). It differs from G. brevibarbis
in having unicuspid teeth vs. bicuspid, and a smaller
eye, eye diameter 13.0-14.3% of head length vs. 19.5%.
It differs from G. arcuatus in having a narrower
head, head width 17.8-18.9% of standard length vs.
20.8-21.0% and interorbital distance 28.9-30.5% of
head length vs. 34.8-35.1%; smaller eye, eye diameter
13.0-14.3% of head length vs. 17.7-18.6%; shorter
dorsal spine, 17.7-20.6% of standard length vs. 21.2-21.8%;
shorter pectoral spine, 16.5-18.9% of standard length
vs. 19.9-20.2%; and a straight dorsoposterior margin
of the dorsal fin vs. concave. Habitat:
G. atratus is found over an open sand/cobble
bottom interspersed with scattered rocky ourcroppings
at a depth of less than 1 m; the water is clear, with
the bottom consisting of either sand or rock/cobble;
the bottom is lightly overlain with leaf litter in
quieter stretches of the river. Etymology:
The specific name atratus: From the Latin
atratus, meaning clothed in black, in reference to
the dark colouration of this species in preservative.
Remarks:
Gogo atratus is only known from the two collection
sites of the type series in the Lower Mananara du
Nord River in northeastern Madagascar. These two sites
are located approximately 7 km from each other. It
is not possible to adequately assess the risk of extinction
of this species because there is not enough information
available on the distribution and/or population status
of this species, nor on plausible threats. Far more
survey work in the region is required before this
species can be accurately assessed. This anchariid
catfish is therefore listed as Data Deficient (IUCN).
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Anchariidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Mananara du Nord River drainage in northeastern Madagascar.
Type Locality: Main channel of Mananara
River at Antonibaolina village, Mananara du Nord drainage,
16°18'47.4''S, 49°39'52.2''E, Toamasina Province,
Madagascar, elevation 108 meters.
Size:
17.0cm. (6¾ins)
Temp:
-
p.H.
-
Reference:
FishBase team RMCA
& Sparks, J.S. 2016. Gogo atratus. The
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 08/2019 ). IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. Available at:
www.iucnredlist.org. Ng, H.H., J.S. Sparks and P.V. Loiselle,
2008. A new species of catfish of the genus Gogo from
the Northeastern Madagascar (Siluriformes: Anchariidae).
Copeia 2008(2):395-400.
Gogo
atratus Head view-male, Mananara du Nord River
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.