IUCN Species of the Day: Mekong Giant Catfish

 

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm)

Photo credit: Zeb Hogan

The Mekong Giant Catfish, Pangasianodon gigas, is classified as ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.  It is the world’s largest freshwater fish and is found only in the parts of the Mekong River basin that run through Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Burma and China.

The Mekong Giant Catfish has been subject to overfishing for many years.  As a result of damming and clearance of the flooded forest near the Tonle Sap Lake, its habitat has been severely disrupted effecting its migration, spawning, eating and breeding habitats.

Legislation restricting the hunting of Mekong Giant Catfish exists but is rarely enforced.  Artificially spawned individuals have been released into the River Mekong since 1985, and captive breeding (reliant on wild-caught brood stock) has been taking place since 2001.  The potentially highly significant impact of dams needs urgent assessment, as recent studies suggest that all large migratory catfish will be eliminated from the river system if two or more mainstream dams are constructed without effective adaptation measures.

 

Credit: National Geographic

 

To learn more about the Mekong Giant Catfish, click here.  Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species by clicking their logo below.

 

 

Bookmark    and Share

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedin