| Pangasius Temporal range: Tertiary - Recent |
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|---|---|
| Pangasius hypophthalmus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pangasiidae |
| Genus: | Pangasius Valenciennes, 1840 |
| Type species | |
| Pangasius buchanani Valenciennes, 1840 |
|
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
| Synonyms | |
Pangasius is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the shark catfish family (Pangasiidae).
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In 1993, Pangasius was one of two extant genera (along with Helicophagus) in the family Pangasiidae. At this point, it was split into four subgenera. Pangasius (Pangasianodon) included P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus and was diagnosed by the absence of mandibular barbels, the absence of teeth in adults and the presence of a single-lobed swimbladder. Pangasius (Pteropangasius) included P. micronema and P. pleurotaenia and was diagnosed by four lobes in the swimbladder and with multiple segments in the last lobe. Pangasius (Neopangasius) included P. nieuwenhuisii, P. humeralis, P. lithostoma, P. kinabatanganensis, diagnosed by palatal teeth arranged in a single large patch and high vertebral counts. Pangasius (Pangasius) was the final subgenus and had no diagnostic features, containing the remaining species.[1] These subgeneric classifications were confirmed in 2000 except for Neopangasius, found to be polyphyletic and to be part of Pangasius (Pangasius), thus leaving three subgenera.[1]
Since then, the subgenera have been variably recognized as separate. P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus have been classified in the genus Pangasianodon, and P. micronemus and P. pleurotaenia in the genus Pseudolais (with Pteropangasius as a junior synonym).[2]
In 2009, Pangasius made it onto the National Fisheries Institute’s “Top Ten” list of the most consumed seafood in America. The Top 10 is based on tonnage of fish sold. According to the NFI, this mild-flavored white-flesh fish is farmed in Asia, and is being used increasingly in food service. It is finding its way onto restaurant menus and into stores as well, where one may see it called basa, tra, or swai.
Species list according to Ferraris, 2007, but listing genera as subgenera.[2]
Subgenus Pangasianodon
Subgenus Pangasius
Subgenus Pteropangasius Fowler, 1937 (junior synonym of genus Pseudolais Vaillant, 1902 in Ferraris, 2007)
The single fossil species of this genus, P. indicus, is reported from the Paleocene period of Sipang, Sumatra, either from the Eocene or the Oligocene.[2]