Fish facts #11 - Jeremy Wade feat. The Giant Mekong Catfish [Video]

Another giant catfish on the list. This time Giant from Mekong which is critically endangered. It belongs to shark catfish family which has ability to grow really fast. This catfish can reach 150 - 200 kg in just 6 years. Besides growing fast it's been placed in Guinness World Records Book as a largest freshwater fish reaching 300 cm (almost 10 ft). Even though it's harmless giant and it's not dangerous for humans. 

 Before you will see the video a short information about this fish.

The Mekong Giant Catfish  (Latin:  Pangasianodon gigas, Chevey, 1931)

 Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Siluriformes

Family: Pangasiidae

Genus: Pangasianodon

Species: P. gigas 

 Distribution

Endemic to the Mekong basin (Asia) where it has become rare due to over exploitation. International trade banned.

 Size / Weight

max. length : 300 cm; 

common length: 150-200 cm; 

max. published weight: 350.0 kg;

 Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous;

Tropical waters

 Short description

Body without stripes; posterior nostril located near anterior nostril; fins grey, never black. The center of the eye above the horizontal line through the mouth angle in juveniles; eye totally below the level of mouth angle in sub-adults and adults. The maxillary and mandibulary pairs of barbels well developed in juveniles; mandibulary barbels become rudimentary in sub-adults and adults. Gigantic size; oral teeth and gill rakers present in small juveniles, absent at about 30-50 cm; dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fins without filamentous extensions.

 Biology

 A migratory species which occurs in medium to large-sized rivers. Feeds on detritus and algae on the bottom; feeds only on vegetation in the river but takes other food in captivity; little is known on its general pattern of life and migratory journeys for spawning. Shows one of the fastest growth rates of any fish in the world, reaching 150 to 200 kg in 6 years. Cited in the Guinness Book of Records as largest freshwater fish. Marketed fresh. Maximum length of 300 cm needs confirmation. Threatened due to over harvesting and habitat loss. 

 Supporting source: http://www.fishbase.org

 Video  

Alternative Video

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Here you can find some of my other posts/stories:

https://steemit.com/fishfacts/@edekadam/fish-facts-10-jeremy-wade-feat-the-goonch-catfish-video

https://steemit.com/fishfacts/@edekadam/fish-facts-9-jeremy-wade-feat-the-muskie-video

https://steemit.com/blog/@edekadam/a-beautiful-time-of-my-life-ichthyology-studies-salmonid-spawning-workshops

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