Description:
Anal soft rays: 25 - 30. Dorsum dull grey with pale
green iridescence; maxillary band of teeth forms a
continuous row with no break in midline. Snout protruding
with upper jaw tooth bands partly exposed when mouth
is closed; large median vomerine tooth plate. Habitat:
Occurs in large rivers and enters flooded forests.
Found in rapids and in deep slow reaches. Migrates
into the middle Mekong along the Thai-Lao border as
water levels and turbidity begin to increase.
Reproduction: Reproduces early in the flood
season and juveniles of 6 to 7 cm are taken by late
June. Diet: Juveniles feed on prawns
and insects; subadults and adults on prawns, insects
and particularly mollusks which are more predominant
in stomach contents than in any other Pangasius
species and on plants. Etymology:
The specific name conchophilus: concho, from
concha (Neo-Latin), and kónche, mussel or cockle;
phílos, fond of, referring to its “pronounced
molluscivory”.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Pangasiidae
Distribution:
Asia:
Mekong, Bangpakong, and Chao Phraya River basins.
Type locality: Thabo, Nongkhai prov.
(Thailand).
Size:
120.0cm. (4ft.0ins)
Temp:
22-26°C (71-79°F)
p.H.
7.0-8.5.
IUCN
Red List
A
common species, it is recorded from the Chao Phraya
and Bangpakong rivers in Thailand, and the Mekong basin.
It is highly utilised and impacted by habitat loss,
but is assessed as Least
Concern at present as there is no evidence
at present of significant population declines across
its range. Impacts from potential future mainstream
dams should be monitored, but needs updating (IUCN 2012).
Pangasius
conchophilus From Savannakhet, Kaisone Phomvihane, small
fish market beside Mekong River, Laos
Pangasius
conchophilus From Savannakhet, Kaisone Phomvihane, small
fish market beside Mekong River, Laos
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