Giant salmon carp
Appearance
Giant salmon carp | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Genus: | Aaptosyax Rainboth, 1991 |
Species: | A. grypus
|
Binomial name | |
Aaptosyax grypus Rainboth, 1991
|
The giant salmon carp[2] (Aaptosyax grypus), also termed the Mekong giant salmon carp,[1] is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae and the single species in the monotypic genus Aaptosyax.[3] It is endemic to the middle reaches of the Mekong River in northern Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Its population is much reduced (>90%) as a result of overfishing and habitat degradation, and it is now considered Critically Endangered.[1]
This fish can reach a length of 130 centimetres (51 in) and weight of 30 kilograms (66 lb).[2] Between 2004 and 2022 no confirmed sightings of adult individuals of this species were made, until a specimen was found at a fish market[4] in Cambodia.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Vidthayanon, C. (2011). "Aaptosyax grypus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T9A13090494. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T9A13090494.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Aaptosyax grypus Rainboth, 1991". FishBase. 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Genus Aaptosyax Rainboth 1991". FishWisePro. 1990. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ University of Nevada Reno (2022-09-26). "Feared extinct, the 'Mekong Ghost' fish resurfaces". YubaNet. Reno, Nevada. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
- ^ Christina Larson (2024-10-23). "Giant fish thought to be extinct is spotted in the Mekong River". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-10-23.