Shark catfish

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Shark catfishes
Pangasius hypophthalmus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Superfamily: Bagroidea Family: Pangasiidae
Genera
Helicophagus Pangasianodon Pangasius See text for species.

The shark catfishes are a family Pangasiidae of catfishes found in fresh and brackish waters across southern Asia, from Pakistan to Borneo. Among the 30-odd members of this family is the plant-eating, endangered Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas, one of the largest known freshwater fishes.^[1]

The dorsal fin is located forward, close to the head, and is often high and triangular, thus inspiring the common name. The anal fin is somewhat lengthy, with 26-46 rays. There are usually two pairs of barbels, maxillary barbels and one pair of chin barbels. The body is compressed. A small adipose fin is present.^[1]

[edit] Species

There are thirty species in three genera:

• Genus Helicophagus
  • Helicophagus leptorhynchus Ng & Kottelat, 2000.
  • Helicophagus typus Bleeker, 1858.
  • Helicophagus waandersii Bleeker, 1858.
• Genus Pangasianodon
  • Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas Chevey, 1931.
• Genus Pangasius
  • Pangasius bedado Roberts, 1999.
  • Pangasius bocourti Sauvage, 1880.
  • Pangasius conchophilus Roberts & Vidthayanon, 1991.
  • Pangasius djambal Bleeker, 1846.
  • Pangasius elongatus Pouyaud, Gustiano & Teugels, 2002.
  • Pangasius humeralis Roberts, 1989.
  • Iridescent Shark, Pangasius hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878).
  • Pangasius kinabatanganensis Roberts & Vidthayanon, 1991.
  • Pangasius krempfi Fang & Chaux, 1949.
  • Pangasius kunyit Pouyaud, Teugels & Legendre, 1999.
  • Spot pangasius, Pangasius larnaudii Bocourt, 1866.
  • Pangasius lithostoma Roberts, 1989.
  • Pangasius macronema Bleeker, 1851.
  • Pangasius mahakamensis Pouyaud, Gustiano & Teugels, 2002.
  • Pangasius mekongensis Gustiano, Teugels & Pouyaud, 2003.
  • Shortbarbel pangasius, Pangasius micronemus Bleeker, 1847.
  • Pangasius myanmar Roberts & Vidthayanon, 1991.
  • Pangasius nasutus (Bleeker, 1863).
  • Pangasius nieuwenhuisii (Popta, 1904).
  • Yellowtail catfish, Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton, 1822).
  • Pangasius pleurotaenia Sauvage, 1878.
  • Pangasius polyuranodon Bleeker, 1852.
  • Pangasius rheophilus Pouyaud & Teugels, 2000.
  • Pangasius sabahensis Gustiano, Teugels & Pouyaud, 2003.
  • Giant pangasius, Pangasius sanitwongsei Smith, 1931.
  • Pangasius tubbi Inger & Chin, 1959.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. ISBN 0471250317. 

[edit] External Links

• "Pangasiidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Mar 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.