Pangasius Temporal range: Tertiary - Recent
Pangasius hypophthalmus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Pangasiidae
Genus:	Pangasius Valenciennes, 1840
Type species
Pangasius buchanani Valenciennes, 1840
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Pseudopangasius Bleeker, 1862 Pseudolais Vaillant, 1902 Neopangasius Popta, 1904 Pteropangasius Fowler, 1937 Sinopangasius Chang & Wu, 1965

Wikispecies has information related to: Pangasius

Pangasius is a genus of shark catfishes native to Asia.

Taxonomy [link]

In 1993, Pangasius was one of two extant genera (along with Helicophagus) in the family Pangasiidae. At this point, it was split into four subgenera. Pangasius (Pangasianodon) included P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus and was diagnosed by the absence of mandibular barbels, the absence of teeth in adults and the presence of a single-lobed swimbladder. Pangasius (Pteropangasius) included P. micronema and P. pleurotaenia and was diagnosed by four lobes in the swimbladder and with multiple segments in the last lobe. Pangasius (Neopangasius) included P. nieuwenhuisii, P. humeralis, P. lithostoma, P. kinabatanganensis, diagnosed by palatal teeth arranged in a single large patch and high vertebral counts. Pangasius (Pangasius) was the final subgenus and had no diagnostic features, containing the remaining species.^[1] These subgeneric classifications were confirmed in 2000 except for Neopangasius, found to be polyphyletic and to be part of Pangasius (Pangasius), thus leaving three subgenera.^[1]

Since then, the subgenera have been variably recognized as separate. P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus have been classified in the genus Pangasianodon, and P. micronemus and P. pleurotaenia in the genus Pseudolais (with Pteropangasius as a junior synonym).^[2]

In 2009, Pangasius made it onto the National Fisheries Institute’s “Top Ten” list of the most consumed seafood in America. The Top 10 is based on tonnage of fish sold. According to the NFI, this mild-flavored white-flesh 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.

Species [link]

There are currently 21 recognized species in this genus: ^[3]

• Pangasius bocourti Sauvage, 1880 (Basa fish)
• Pangasius conchophilus T. R. Roberts & Vidthayanon, 1991
• Pangasius djambal Bleeker, 1846
• Pangasius elongatus Pouyaud, Gustiano & Teugels, 2002
• Pangasius humeralis T. R. Roberts, 1989
• Pangasius kinabatanganensis T. R. Roberts & Vidthayanon, 1991
• Pangasius krempfi P. W. Fang & Chaux, 1949
• Pangasius kunyit Pouyaud, Teugels & M. Legendre, 1999
• Pangasius larnaudii Bocourt, 1866 (Spot pangasius)
• Pangasius lithostoma T. R. Roberts, 1989
• Pangasius macronema Bleeker, 1851
• Pangasius mahakamensis Pouyaud, Gustiano & Teugels, 2002
• Pangasius mekongensis Gustiano, Teugels & Pouyaud, 2003
• Pangasius myanmar T. R. Roberts & Vidthayanon, 1991
• Pangasius nasutus (Bleeker, 1863)
• Pangasius nieuwenhuisii (Popta, 1904)
• Pangasius pangasius (F. Hamilton, 1822) (Yellowtail catfish)
• Pangasius polyuranodon Bleeker, 1852
• Pangasius rheophilus Pouyaud & Teugels, 2000
• Pangasius sabahensis Gustiano, Teugels & Pouyaud, 2003
• Pangasius sanitwongsei H. M. Smith, 1931 (Giant pangasius)

Fossil record [link]

The single fossil species of this genus, P. indicus, is reported from the Paleocene period of Sipang, Sumatra, either from the Eocene or the Oligocene.^[2]

References [link]