Iridescent shark

Iridescent shark
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pangasiidae
Genus: Pangasianodon
Species:
P. hypophthalmus
Binomial name
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
(Sauvage, 1878)
Synonyms

Helicophagus hypophthalmus Sauvage, 1878
Pangasius sutchi Fowler, 1937[3]
Pangasius hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878)

The iridescent shark, or iridescent shark catfish[4] (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is a species of shark catfish (family Pangasiidae) native to the rivers of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it is not a shark. It is found in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya River, and is heavily cultivated for food there.

The meat is often marketed under the common name swai (from Thai สวาย). It has also been introduced into other river basins as a food source, and its striking appearance and iridescence have made it popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, among whom it is also known as the Siamese shark catfish or sutchi catfish.[5] The swai's omnivorous diet consists of crustaceans, other fish, and plant matter.[6]

  1. ^ Vidthayanon, C.; Hogan, Z. (2011). "Pangasianodon hypophthalmus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T180689A7649971. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T180689A7649971.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ "Pangasius hypophthalmus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  4. ^ "River Catfish, Explained". National Geographic. 2009-12-15. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  5. ^ Robert (2018-12-14). "Iridescent Shark Care Guide: Tank Mates, Tank Size, Growth Rate". Fishkeeping World. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fishbase was invoked but never defined (see the help page).