Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Tetraodontidae (Puffers) > Tetraodontinae
Etymology: Pao: Origin of Pao is from the local name of pufferfishes in Thai and Lao languages, pla pao and pa pao, respectively, with pla and pa meaning fish, and pao meaning purse.
More on author: Bleeker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; pH range: 7.0 - ? ; dH range: 12 - ?. Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 2060)
Asia: Thailand to Indonesia. Found in the Mekong basin.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm male/unsexed; (Ref. 12693)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Chin without marks or, rarely, with indistinct faint marks; upper part of body dirty brown, brownish gray or gray, poorly separated from lower part of body which tends to be dirty off-white, yellowish or pale gray, often with dusky mottling or spots; flank with one or more ocellated spots, which may be red-, green-, or blue centered.
Inhabits streams and rivers in upland and lowland areas (Ref. 56749). Occurs in flowing and standing water habitats (Ref. 12693). Also found in swamps and reservoirs, where it may be extremely abundant (Ref. 27661). Encountered in medium to large-sized rivers (Ref. 12975). Feeds on mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates as well as some plant matter and detritus (Ref. 12693). Possibly poisonous and not a commercial fish (Ref. 12693). Sometimes imported in the aquarium trade but known to be very aggressive and snappish (Ref. 12693).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Roberts, T.R., 1998. Freshwater fugu or pufferfishes of the genus Tetraodon from the Mekong basin, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyol. Res. 45(3):225-234. (Ref. 27661)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02754 (0.01393 - 0.05445), b=2.88 (2.72 - 3.04), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.35 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
