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)