Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Pangasiidae (Shark catfishes)
Etymology: Helicophagus: Greek, helike = spiral + Greek, phagein = to eat (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Ng & Kottelat.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Asia: Chao Phraya and Mekong River drainages in Indochina.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 47.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43281)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 7; Anal soft rays: 35 - 42; Vertebrae: 46 - 48. Can be differentiated from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: length of anal-fin base 34.5-38.2% SL, length of caudal peduncle 12.9-15.3% SL, head length 20.8-22.8% SL, eye diameter 16.1-21.2% HL, 9-12 gill rakers on the first branchial arch (Ref. 39387). Snout relatively elongate, conical in dorsal view; mouth narrow, with 20-25 times in SL; posterior nostril midway between anterior nostril and eye (Ref. 43281).
Occurs in permanent river channels and does not move into flooded areas. Migrates upstream when water levels begin to rise at the beginning of the flood season and moves downstream as the water clears at the end of the flood season. Feeds predominantly on bivalves.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Ng, H.H. and M. Kottelat, 2000. Helicophagus leptorhynchus, a new species of molluscivorous catfish from Indochina (Teleostei: Pangasiidae). Raffles Bull. Zoll. 48(1):55-58. (Ref. 39387)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00457 (0.00217 - 0.00962), b=3.09 (2.90 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100).