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Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton, 1822) Pangas catfish |
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| Pungas, Aie, Banka-jella, Choluva-jella, Choluvajella, Comboo-keletti, Coola kelettee, Coola-kellette, Eye keletee, Jellum, Kovailoolakeluthai, Manga-keluthi, Pangas, Pangash, Pangra, Pangsa, Pariasi, Payas, Periasi, Ponga, Pongas, Ponnga, Pungas, Pungwas, परियासी, ஐ கெழுத்தி, கோலா கெழுத்தி, கோவைலாகெளுத்தீ, கோவைலோள கெழுத்தி, சூளகெளுத்தீ , చోలువజెల్లా | ||
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photo by
Rahman, A.K.A. |
| Family: | Pangasiidae (Shark catfishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 300 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 6 - 7.5; dH range: 25; depth range - 50 m, potamodromous | |||
| 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. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 29-32. Eye small, its diameter more than 7 times in head length (in 18 cm long specimens); bright yellow caudal fin in adults; maxillary barbel extends to gill aperture; 23-28 gill rakers on first arch (Ref. 12693). | |||
| 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). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 October 2009 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
| Country info: | Known throughout India (Ref. 43640). Found in Bihar, Darjeeling, Assam, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chennai, West Bengal, Rohini and Rapti river in Uttar Pradesh and Gangetic estuary (Ref. 45255). Recorded from Chilka Lake (Ref. 29108). A good fishery exists in the Gangetic estuaries in July-August (Ref. 4833). Vulnerable (Ref. 41236). Status of threat: Critically endangered in Western Ghats (Ref. 50614). | |||