Pangasianodon gigas Chevey, 1931

Mekong giant catfish

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Siluriformes \| Pangasiidae
Synonyms	Pangasius gigas, Pangasius paucidens, ... more
Common names	Giant catfish, Silure de verre géant, Siluro gigante, ... more

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Main reference

Roberts, T.R. and C. Vidthayanon. 1991. (Ref. 7432)
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Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 300 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30857); 235 cm SL (female); max. published weight: 350.0 kg (Ref. 43281)

Environment

Benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater

Climate / Range

Tropical

Asia: endemic to the Mekong basin where it has become rare due to overexploitation. International trade banned (CITES I, since 1.7.1975; CMS Appendix I).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Anal soft rays: 35; Vertebrae: 48. Body without stripes; posterior nostril located near anterior nostril; 7 branched dorsal-fin rays; gill rakers rudimentary or absent; fins grey, never black (Ref. 12693). The center of the eye above the horizontal line through the mouth angle in juveniles; eye totally below the level of mouth angle in subadults and adults. The maxillary and mandibulary pairs of barbels well developed in juveniles; mandibulary barbels become rudimentary in subadults and adults (Ref. 9448). Gigantic size; oral teeth and gill rakers present in small juveniles, absent at about 30-50 cm SL; dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fins without filamentous extensions (Ref. 43281). Distinguished from other large catfish in the Mekong by its lack of teeth and the almost complete absence of barbels (Ref. 2686)

A migratory species (Ref. 37772) that occurs in medium to large-sized rivers (Ref. 12975). Feeds on detritus and algae on the bottom (Ref. 58784); feeds only on vegetation in the river but takes other food in captivity; little is known on its general pattern of life and migratory journeys for spawning (Ref. 2686). Shows one of the fastest growth rates of any fish in the world, reaching 150 to 200 kg in 6 years (Ref. 12693). Cited in the Guinness Book of Records as largest freshwater fish (Ref. 6472). Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693). Maximum length of 300 cm needs confirmation. Threatened due to over harvesting and habitat loss (Ref. 58490).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Critically Endangered (CR) (A4bcde)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tm=5-10)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high vulnerability (76 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Cruz, Tess

Modified by Torres, Armi G.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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