Giant pangasius

This article is about Pangasius sanitwongsei; for Pangasianodon gigas which has a similar common name, see Mekong giant catfish

Giant pangasius
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Pangasiidae
Genus:	Pangasius
Species:	P. sanitwongsei
Binomial name
Pangasius sanitwongsei Smith, 1931

The giant pangasius or Chao Phraya giant catfish (Pangasius sanitwongsei) is a species of freshwater fish in the shark catfish family (family Pangasiidae) of order Siluriformes, found in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins. These fish are benthopelagic swimmers.^[2]

Physical characteristics

The giant pangasius is pigmented with dusky melanophores. It has a wide, flat, whiskerless head. It has a silver, curved underside and a dark brown back. Its dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins are dark gray and the first soft ray is extended into a filament. Full-grown adults can reach ten feet in length (300 cm) and weigh up to 646 pounds (293 kg).^[2]

Behavior

Juveniles and adults feed on crustaceans and fishes. The giant pangasius is a migratory species. These fish typically spawn just prior to the monsoon season.^[2]

Relationship to humans

Fishing of this species used to be accompanied by religious ceremonies and rites. It is often mentioned in textbooks, news media, and popular press. This fish is a popular food fish and marketed fresh.^[2]

These fish sometimes appear in the aquarium fish hobby. There is even a "balloon" form of this fish where the fish has an unusually short and stocky body.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

1. ^ Jenkins, A., Kullander, F.F. & Tan, H.H. (2007). Pangasius sanitwongsei. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 2009-11-24.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Pangasius sanitwongsei" in FishBase. Mar 2007 version.