The Mekong River is home to some of the largest freshwater fish in the world, including the Mekong giant catfish, which can weigh up to 300kg, and the freshwater stingray, which can reach a length of 5m. With hundreds of fish species and abundant silt, the Mekong River sustains tens of millions of people.
The Mekong giant catfish can reach lengths of up to 3.2m and weigh as much as 300kg, making it one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world. However, it is currently facing the highest risk of extinction among the fish species in the Mekong River. (Image: lugaluda.com).
The Mekong giant catfish lives in the lower Mekong River, which spans Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Their population has drastically declined in recent years due to overfishing, the construction of hydropower dams, and habitat destruction. This giant fish has been linked to some mysterious disappearances of people in the river areas, as its immense size is capable of pulling an adult underwater. However, scientists believe that the Mekong giant catfish and other giant catfish species do not target humans as prey. If an attack occurs, it is likely a defensive reaction. According to NBC News, these fish migrate between habitats in the lower Mekong in Cambodia, upstream to northern Thailand and Laos each year for breeding. (Image: National Geographic).
As one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world, the body of the Mekong stingray can reach lengths of 5m and weigh up to 30kg. However, it is currently unknown how many freshwater stingrays still inhabit the Mekong River and whether they can survive in the sea like their saltwater counterparts. (Image: AP).
Scientists are certain of one thing: the population of Mekong freshwater stingrays has been declining rapidly over the past few decades due to habitat degradation. (Image: National Geographic).
The Mekong giant carp is one of the largest carp species in the world, with a maximum body length of 2.4m and weight up to 250kg. (Image: hubpages.com).
Giant Siamese carp (also known as the Mekong giant carp or black carp) is another large carp species found in the Mekong. Most of them exceed 1.5m in length and weigh more than 45kg, with the largest reaching up to 3m and 300kg. The delicious meat of the Siamese carp is a significant reason for their drastic population decline due to overfishing. (Image: National Geographic
In Vietnam, the Siamese carp is referred to as “Cá Hô”. It is also dubbed the “king fish” of the waterways in the Mekong Delta. Cá Hô inhabits the Mekong River basin across Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. (Image: answers.com).
The giant snakehead fish (known as Pla Thepa in Thailand) can weigh up to 200kg, with a maximum body length of 3m. The giant snakehead is a member of the catfish family and is often considered a “suspect” in some human disappearance cases. They exhibit very aggressive behavior, with a dorsal fin that rises like a flag, creating a wave-slicing appearance similar to a shark. (Image: waterwolves.com).
This “water monster” is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and is also found in many areas along the Mekong River. (Image: aquatic-photography.com).
A comparison image of some river monsters in the Mekong, showcasing the impressive sizes of the Mekong giant catfish and the giant snakehead – (Image: AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC).
