| Siluridae (Sheatfishes) |
| 60 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; freshwater |
| Asia: Chao Phraya and Mekong River drainages in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Previously misidentified as Belodontichthys dinema from the Mekong River basin. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 3-4; Anal soft rays: 79-96. Differs from its sole congener, B. dinema, in having a shorter pectoral fin, 21.9-25.8% SL, versus 25.9-28.9; a shorter head, 20.9-23.9% SL, versus 24.2-26.0; and a shorter snout, 35.4-39.6% HL, versus 39.0-43.1 (Ref. 38432). Strongly compressed head and body; upturned mouth with conspicuous large teeth; pectoral fin longer than head (Ref. 43281). |
| Occurs in medium to large-sized rivers (Ref. 12975). Found from middle depths to the surface in deeper parts of large rivers. Feeds on smaller fish near the water surface. An excellent game fish which can be caught using hook and line. Presently large numbers are being taken near Stung Treng in Cambodia by explosives (Ref. 12693). Migrates upstream through the Khone Falls in June-July with other silurids and enters the flooded forest in July-October, where it feeds heavily on cyprinids of the genus Henicorhynchus (pa soi, identified as Cirrhinus spp.) (Ref. 38432). Marketed fresh or dried and salted (Ref. 12693). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 February 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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