| Pangasius | |
|---|---|
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| Pangasius sanitwongsei | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pangasiidae |
| Genus: | Pangasius Valenciennes, 1840 |
| Type species | |
| Pangasius pangasius Hamilton, 1822 | |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pangasius is agenus of medium-large to very largeshark catfishes native to fresh water inSouth andSoutheast Asia. The term "pangasius" is sometimes used to specifically refer to the commercially importantbasa fish,P. bocourti.[1]
In 1993,Pangasius was one of two extant genera (along withHelicophagus) in the familyPangasiidae. At this point, it was split into four subgenera.Pangasius (Pangasianodon) includedP. gigas andP. hypophthalmus and was diagnosed by the absence ofmandibular barbels, the absence of teeth in adults and the presence of a single-lobedswimbladder.Pangasius (Pteropangasius) includedP. micronema andP. pleurotaenia and was typified by four lobes in the swimbladder and with multiple segments in the last lobe.Pangasius (Neopangasius) includedP. nieuwenhuisii,P. humeralis,P. lithostoma,P. kinabatanganensis, and typically hadpalatal teeth arranged in a single large patch and highvertebral counts.Pangasius (Pangasius) was the final subgenus and had no unique features, including the remaining species.[2] These subgeneric classifications were confirmed in 2000 except forNeopangasius, found to bepolyphyletic and to be part ofPangasius (Pangasius), thus leaving three subgenera.[2]
Since then, the subgenera have been variably recognized as separate.P. gigas andP. hypophthalmus have been classified in the genusPangasianodon, andP. micronemus andP. pleurotaenia in the genusPseudolais (withPteropangasius as ajunior synonym).[3]
In 2011,Pangasius was sixth in theNational Fisheries Institute's "Top 10" list of the most consumed seafood in the United States.[4] The Top 10 is based on tonnage of fish sold. According to the NFI, this mild-flavored white-fleshed fish is farmed in Asia, and is being used increasingly in food service. It is finding its way onto restaurant menus and into stores, as well, where one may see it called basa, tra, or swai. They are either called Panga, Pangas or Pangasius. InMalaysia andIndonesia,Pangasius are called Ikan Patin, while Malaysian Chinese callPangasius 巴丁鱼. Some species likePangasius nasutus,Pangasius djambal andPangasius sanitwongsei are expensive food fish inMalaysia,Pangasius sanitwongsei is also a common fish in aquarium trade andsport fishing.
Currently, 23 recognized species are in this genus:[5]
The single known fossil species of this genus,P. indicus, is reported from thePaleogene period ofSipang,Sumatra, either from theEocene or theOligocene.[3]
Media related toPangasius at Wikimedia Commons| National | |
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