Giant Shark Catfish - Paroon Shark Pangasius sanitwongsei

The Giant Shark Catfish, also called the Giant Pangasius Catfish and the Paroon (Shark), is native to main rivers of the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins in Indochina. It is a carnivore, as fond of meat as of fish, and it can grow to a massive 2.5 metres long. The adult has long, flowing dorsal (especially), pectoral and pelvic fins and black and white markings on the anal and tail fins.

Although individuals can live for over 20 years, the species is critically endangered, mainly through over-fishing but also through construction of dams since the fish migrate upstream to spawn.

Two fish of the same family from the same region are sometimes mistaken for the longer-finned Paroon: the Giant Mekong Catfish, Pangasianodon gigas, of main Mekong river channels, growing to some 3 metres, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. It is also critically endangered by over-harvesting and by dam constuction limiting spawning. The smaller Iridescent Shark Catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, also native to the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins, can grow to 1.3 metres long. Juveniles of the Iridescent are shiny with a lateral stripe but adults are grey.

The adult Paroon can be distinguished from both Pangasianodons by its high, longer dorsal fin and wide, arced, more rigid tail structure.

As it ages and the body fills out and the high dorsal fin's thin, trailing end wears away, the Giant Pangasius (above) can resemble the Giant Mekong Catfish Pangasianodon gigas.