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The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) is a species of freshwater fish in the shark catfish family (family Pangasiidae) of order Siluriformes, native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia. It is the only species of genus Pangasianodon Chevey, 1931. Endemic to the lower half of the Mekong river, this catfish is in danger of extinction due to overfishing, as well as the decrease in water quality due to development and upstream damming. The current IUCN Red List for fishes classes the species as Critically Endangered; while the number of individuals living in the wild is not known, catch data indicate that the population has fallen by 80 percent in the last 13 years. It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES, banning international trade. Fishing for P. gigas is illegal in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, but the bans appear to be ineffective, with the fish continuing to be caught in all three countries. However, in recognition of the threat to the species, nearly 60 Thai fisherman agreed to stop catching the endangered catfish in June 2006, to mark the 60th anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne of Thailand. Attaining an unconfirmed length of 3 m, P. gigas grows extremely quickly, reaching a mass of 150-200 kg in only six years. The largest catch recorded in Thailand since record-keeping began in 1981 was a female measuring 2.7 m (roughly 9 feet) in length and weighing 293 kg (646 lb). This specimen is widely recognized as the largest freshwater fish ever caught. Thai Fisheries officials stripped the fish of its eggs as part of a breeding programme, intending then to release it, but the fish died in captivity and was sold as food to local villagers. Grey to white in colour and lacking stripes, the Mekong giant catfish is distinguished by the near-total lack of barbels and the absence of teeth. 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, or pla hua kum hang hum (Thai); cá tra dầu (Vietnamese); and trey réach (Khmer). Some sources consider P. gigas to be a member of genus Pangasius, but the chief authorities classify it in its own genus, Pangasianodon. Pangasius paucidens Fang & Chaux, 1949 is an old junior synonym.
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