Name: Pangasuis sanitwongsei (giant catfish)

Status: Critically endangered

Range: The Choa Phraya and Mekong basins in Cambodia, China, Lao, PDR (people’s democratic republic) Thailand, and Viet Nam

Habitat & Ecology: The giant catfish is a benthic freshwater fish that is potamodromous and inhabits large rivers surrounded by rainforest. The giant catfish uses deep pools in the dry season as refuges. This species of fish migrates and spawns just before the rainy season. Pangasuis sanitwongsei can reach 300cm (10 feet) in length and get up to 293kg (646 pounds). There are two sub populations separated by the Khone falls; with both populations in decline and having an estimated generation time of 10-15 years.

Potential Climatic effect: change of flow of the river and its tributaries could effect the migration of the spawning fish. The timing of the rainy season shifting form climate change could also affect the migration and spawning of the giant catfish.