| Giant pangasius | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pangasiidae |
| Genus: | Pangasius |
| Species: | P. sanitwongsei |
| Binomial name | |
| Pangasius sanitwongsei Smith, 1931 |
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The giant pangasius or Chao Phraya giant catfish (Pangasius sanitwongsei) is a species of freshwater fish in the shark catfish family (family Pangasiidae) of order Siluriformes, found in the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins. These fish are benthopelagic swimmers.[2]
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The giant pangasius is pigmented with dusky melanophores. It has a wide, flat, whiskerless head. It has a silver, curved underside and a dark brown back. Its dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins are dark gray and the first soft ray is extended into a filament. Full-grown adults can reach ten feet in length (300 cm) and weigh up to 646 pounds (293 kg).[2]
Juveniles and adults feed on crustaceans and fishes. The giant pangasius is a migratory species. These fish typically spawn just prior to the monsoon season.[2]
Fishing of this species used to be accompanied by religious ceremonies and rites. It is often mentioned in textbooks, news media, and popular press. This fish is a popular food fish and marketed fresh.[2]
These fish sometimes appear in the aquarium fish hobby. There is even a "balloon" form of this fish where the fish has an unusually short and stocky body.