Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Pangasiidae (Shark catfishes)
Etymology: Pangasius: The Vietnamese name of a fish (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Roberts & Vidthayanon.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical
Asia: Mekong, Bangpakong, and Chao Phraya basins.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 37 - ? cm
Max length : 120 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30857)
Anal soft rays: 25 - 30. Dorsum dull grey with pale green iridescence; maxillary band of teeth forms a continuous row with no break in midline (Ref. 12693). Snout protruding with upper jaw tooth bands partly exposed when mouth is closed; large median vomerine tooth plate (Ref. 43281).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in large rivers (Ref. 12693) and enters flooded forests (Ref. 9497). Found in rapids and in deep slow reaches (Ref. 37771). Juveniles feed on prawns and insects; subadults and adults on prawns, insects and particularly mollusks which are more predominant in stomach contents than in any other Pangasius species (Ref. 7432) and on plants (Ref. 9497). Migrates into the middle Mekong along the Thai-Lao border as water levels and turbidity begin to increase. Reproduces early in the flood season and juveniles of 6 to 7 cm are taken by late June (Ref. 12693). Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693).
Roberts, T.R. and C. Vidthayanon, 1991. Systematic revision of the Asian catfish family Pangasiidae, with biological observations and descriptions of three new species. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 143:97-144. (Ref. 7432)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: likely future use
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00220 - 0.00687), b=3.12 (2.96 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.7 ±0.34 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K and tmax; Fec=18,000-42,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (88 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 15 [8, 49] mg/100g; Iron = 0.486 [0.186, 1.457] mg/100g; Protein = 15.1 [13.6, 16.8] %; Omega3 = 0.233 [0.091, 0.589] g/100g; Selenium = 134 [50, 299] μg/100g; VitaminA = 26.2 [5.9, 112.8] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.61 [0.93, 4.84] mg/100g (wet weight);
