Pangasius conchophilus explained

Pangasius conchophilus is a species of shark catfish.^[1] It is a freshwater, benthopelagic, potamodromous and tropical fish, measuring up to 120cm (50inches) long. It is found in the Mekong, Bangpakong, and Chao Phraya basins.

Description

This species counts with 25 to 30 anal soft rays. Its dorsum is a dull grey colour with a pale green iridescence. Its maxillary band of teeth forms a continuous row, and its snout protrudes with upper jaw tooth bands which are somewhat exposed when the animal's mouth is closed; it possesses a large median vomerine tooth plate.

The fish habitates large rivers and enters flooded forests. It is also found in rapids and in deep slow reaches. Juveniles are found to feed on prawns and insects, while adults on prawns, insects, mollusks, and on plants. The species migrates into the middle Mekong along the Thai-Lao border as water turbidity increases. It is known to reproduce early in the flood season, and juveniles of between 6cmand7cmcm (02inchesand03inchescm) are taken by the end of the month of June. It is a local edible specimen.

Further reading

• Hung, L. T., et al. "Comparing growth and protein requirements for fingerlings of three catfish of the Mekong River (Pangasius Bocourti, Pangagasius Hypothalmus and Pangasius Conchophilus)." Journal of Aquaculture in the Tropics 17.4 (2002): 325–335.
• Poulsen, Anders F., and John Valbo-Jorgensen. "Deep pools in the Mekong River." Catch and Culture 7.1 (2001): 1–8.
• Ngamsiri, T., et al. "Characterization of microsatellite DNA markers in a critically endangered species, Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas."Molecular Ecology Notes 6.2 (2006): 313–315.

Notes and References

1. Roberts, Tyson R., and Chavalit Vidthayanon. "Systematic revision of the Asian catfish family Pangasiidae, with biological observations and descriptions of three new species." Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (1991): 97-143.