Aaptosyax grypus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_salmon_carp
Overview
The giant salmon carp, also termed the Mekong giant salmon carp, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae and the single species in the monotypic genus Aaptosyax. It is endemic to the middle reaches of the Mekong River in northern Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Its population is much reduced (>90%) as a result of overfishing and habitat degradation, and it is now considered Critically Endangered.
Aaptosyax grypus faces severe population decline primarily due to overfishing and habitat degradation in the Mekong River system. Dam construction has fragmented its riverine habitat and altered natural flow patterns essential for spawning. The species' large size makes it a prized target for commercial and subsistence fishing, leading to unsustainable harvest rates that exceed natural recruitment.
Habitat
This large freshwater fish inhabits the deep pools and main channels of the Mekong River and its major tributaries across Southeast Asia. It prefers areas with strong currents and rocky substrates, typically found at depths of 10-30 meters in well-oxygenated waters.
