Thailand country information

Common names: Mekong featherback
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: commercial | Ref: Rainboth, W.J., 1996
Aquaculture: commercial | Ref: Roberts, T.R., 1992
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Found in the mainstream of the Mekong River (Ref. 7431). Spends the entire year in deep pools in the main river channel, but in few places like Klong Kaem in Ubol Ratchatani it enters tributaries during the flood season (Ref. 37770). Has been bred for several years in captivity at Sri Chiengmai Fisheries station (near Nongkhai) and elsewhere in Thailand (Ref. 7431). Threatened due to habitat loss and overfishing (Ref. 58784). Also Ref. 1632, 12255, 9648, 26336, 27732, 36654, 43281. In range Ref. 12041. Status of threat: Endangered (Ref. 58784).
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Monkolprasit, S., S. Sontirat, S. Vimollohakarn and T. Songsirikul, 1997
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Mekong featherback, 白氏铠甲弓背鱼, Trey krai, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) > Notopteridae (Featherbacks or knifefishes) > Notopterinae
Etymology: Chitala: Bangladesh local name.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Asia: mainstream of the Mekong in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and the lower course of some tributaries.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 120 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30857)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Distinguishable by the presence of numerous small black spots (in the anterior half of the body), merging posteriorly into irregular oblique bands extending on the anal and caudal fins (Ref. 27732). Differs from all other species except C. lopis in having a large round black spot at base of pectoral fin. In C. blanci pectoral basal spot present in juveniles as small as 6 cm and retained throughout life (Ref. 7431).

Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Apparently restricted to areas with fast flowing waters, deep pools or rapids (Ref. 27732). Prefer habitats associated with rocky substrates (Ref. 37770). Occur in the mainstream of the Mekong River. Avoids tributaries and swamps (Ref. 7431). Reported to undertake short, local migrations (Ref. 37770). Active during twilight and night. Feed on fishes, crustaceans and insects. Also take smaller vertebrates (Ref. 58784). Spawning sites are found in inundated forests (Ref. 33813). Mature adults breed during the rainy season. Occasionally seen in the aquarium trade. (Ref. 12693). Has been bred for several years in Thailand (Ref. 7431).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Female guards the fry (to be verified).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Roberts, T.R., 1992. Systematic revision of the old world freshwater fish family Notopteridae. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 2(4):361-383. (Ref. 7431)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Near Threatened (NT) ; Date assessed: 23 February 2011

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial

FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5166 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm Total Length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.7 ±0.56 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (88 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Chitala blanci (d'Aubenton, 1965)