Pangas catfish (Pangasius pangasius) fish species and information / pictures of Pangas catfish - Pangasius pangasius

Pangas catfish (Pangasius pangasius) fish species information

Scientific Name
Pangasius pangasius

Common Name
Pangas catfish

Biology
Found in large rivers and estuaries (Ref. 4833). Occurs in high estuary (freshwater tidal zone) as juveniles, moving to brackish water as sub-adults, and finally as adults to river mouths and inshore areas (Ref. 12693). Longevity given as 10 years (Ref. 2686) but appears too low. Feeds on snails, other mollusks (Ref. 1479) and plants (Ref. 4833). Reared for consumption in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam; excellent food fish with very white fine grained sweet flesh (Ref 2686). Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693).

Classification

Classified By
Hamilton, 1822
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Catfish (Siluriformes)
Family
Shark catfishes (Pangasiidae)

Distribution

Region
Asia
Distribution
Asia: large rivers of Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (Ganges, Krishna?, Godavari, Irrawaddy). Widely introduced in its geographical range for aquaculture. Reports from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are based on misidentifications.
Range
35°N - 8°N

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
23 °C
Water Temperature To
28 °C
Depth From - meters
50 m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
benthopelagic
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; ; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 25 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 50 - ? m (Ref. 4833)
Trophic Level
3.44 s.e. 0.51 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
False
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
300 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Very high vulnerability (90 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.04; tmax=10(?))
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)