Mekong giant catfish
| Giant Mekong Catfish | |
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| Species: | P. gigas
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| Pangasius gigas Chevey, 1931
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The Giant Mekong Catfish (Pangasius gigas (Chevey 1931), formerly Pangasianodon, also known as Pangasius paucidens (Fang & Chaux 1949)) is one of the largest (by weight) freshwater fish in the world. It is endemic to the Lao stretch of the Mekong river, where it is in danger of extinction due to overfishing as well as the decrease of water quality due to development and upstream damming. The current IUCN redlist for fishes classes the species as Critically Endangered.
The fish is distinguished from other large catfish in the Mekong by its lack of teeth and the almost complete absence of barbels; it feeds only on vegetation in the river but can take other food in captivity. It reaches a length of 3 m and a weight of 150-200 kg, with the largest catch on record being a female 2.7 m long and weighing 293 kg (646 lb). Note: some sources (e.g. National Geographic) say this specimen was originally incorrectly reported as male and that it was actually a female. Thai Fisheries officials stripped the fish of its eggs and hoped to release the fish as part of a breeding program, but the fish died in captivity.
In Laos, it is called "Pa beuk", and is the most highly-esteemed fish in Lao cuisine. In former times, specific rites were associated with the catch of these fish, which was conducted once yearly. Rarely is the fish available in markets. Food writer Alan Davidson describes its flesh with words like "superlative", "admirable texture and unmatched flavour", and "subtle and majestic". The liver is a delicacy and the pickled roe of the females provide "Laotian caviar".
It is also known as "Pla buk", "Pla ma fai", "Pla nang", and "Pla hua kum hang hum" (Thai), "Cá tra dầu" (Vietnamese), and "Trey réach" (Khmer).
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References
- "Pangasius gigas". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 24 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Pangasius gigas". FishBase. October 2005 version.
External links
- Photographs of sport fishers with their catch
- National Geographic article describing largest catch on record
- National Geographic article
- National Geographic citing largest catch as female, not male
- Mekong Catfish caught as world's largest known fish
- Giant Pangasius heading for extinction
- Giant Mekong catfish released in Cambodia
- Article in IHT about May 2005 catch of 646 lb specimen
- The big one, New Scientist, 9 July 2005, p. 6