At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Mekong giant catfish is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, a huge, scaleless catfish of the Mekong. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It migrates long distances along the river and has become extremely rare.
Range & habitat
The Mekong River basin of Southeast Asia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Dams blocking migration
- Overfishing
- Habitat change and reduced flow
Why it matters
A giant of one of the world's great rivers, the Mekong giant catfish is a flagship for keeping the Mekong connected and healthy for migratory fish and the people who depend on them.
Sources
Sources for Mekong Giant Catfish
- IUCN Red List — look up Mekong Giant Catfish (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Mekong giant catfish?
It is among the largest freshwater fish on Earth, historically reaching around three metres and several hundred kilograms — though such giants are now extremely rare.
Why is the Mekong giant catfish Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite dams that block its long migrations, overfishing, and habitat change and reduced river flow. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: