Common name : Mekong giant catfish
Scientific name : Pangasianodon gigas
Family : Pangasiidae
Native to : Mekong basin
Interesting fact : It is the largest freshwaterfish in the world.
Conservation status : Critically Endangered
The giant catfish is a large fish that looks like a shark. It is grey to white in colour, lacking stripes, barbels and teeth. It grows rapidly to a length of 3 metres and a weight of 150-200 kg in six years. These cannibalistic fries feed on zooplankton, and become herbivores in a year feeding on filamentous algae. Their lifespan is 60 years.
