Chitala lopis

(Bleeker, 1851)

Vernacular names
English : Giant featherback
French : Poisson-couteau géant

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Osteoglossiformes
Family : Notopteridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The biggest species of its genus (and probably of its family), growing to over 150 cm long. Back strongly humped, very large head with jaws being larger and larger as the fish ages. Coloration entirely dark silvery grey with very dark to almost black fins. No spots or markings of any kind on live specimens.

Range and habitat
The species was thought to be endemic to Java for a while but has a much larger range, being found on Sumatra, Borneo as well as in mainland southeast Asia, north to Thailand and all the way to the Mekong basin. It lives in big rivers as well as smaller forest streams.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : EXTINCT
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has been assessed as Extinct by IUCN Red List in 2019 but since then, a publication has stated that the species still exists on Sumatra, Borneo and is distributed all the way into Thailand and the Mekong river basin. It can be locally threatened by the construction of dams, pollution of water and overfishing. Its status needs to be reevaluated.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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