- Giant pangasius
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- This article is about Pangasius sanitwongsei; for Pangasianodon gigas which has a similar common name, see Mekong giant catfish
Giant pangasius Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Pangasiidae Genus: Pangasius Species: P. sanitwongsei Binomial name Pangasius sanitwongsei
Smith, 1931The 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]
Contents
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
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Pangasius sanitwongsei" in FishBase. Mar 2007 version.
Categories:- IUCN Red List critically endangered species
- Pangasiidae
- Fauna of Southeast Asia
- Fish of Thailand
- Fish of Malaysia
- Siluriformes stubs
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