Indo-Pacific River environment – Mekong river

Mekong River is the longest in the Southeast Asian. It is born to 5,224 m altitude in the Tibetan plateau and flows into the Sea of South China, in Vietnan on a journey of 4,800 kilometers watering hills, mountains and jungles of six countries. Over time the alluvium carried by Mekong river, have been deposited in an shallow underwater platform forming an plain, the delta, which currently covers more than 75,000 km2.

Mekong River was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1957. Mekong River has a unique biodiversity. More than 20,000 species of plants and 2,500 animals, of which 1,200 are fish, depend on its waters and new species are described every year.

Animal Species

Asian small clawded otter

Aonyx cinereus

Bamboo carp

Spinibarbus denticulatus

Chinese alligator

Alligator sinensis

Common water monitor

Varanus salvator

Giant Gourami

Osphronemus goramy

Gold fish

Carassius auratus

Silver shark

Balantiocheilos melanopterus

Spotted pond turtle

Geoclemys hamiltonii

Striped catfish

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Thai shark

Pangasius sanitwongsei

Yellowcheek

Elopichthys bambusa

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Asian small clawded otter

Aonyx cinereus

It is a very sociable animal that lives in family groups although it is a monogamous species. They spend much of the day playing and communicating among them. To do so, they have at least twelve different types of vocalizations together with visual, hormonal and tactile cues, such as the social grooming. Its great manual dexterity allows it to lift stones, to build dens in the riverbanks or to easily hunt crabs, molluscs and fishes by the sense of touch.

Información sobre Asian small clawded otter

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Bamboo carp

Spinibarbus denticulatus

This species is usually found in shallow areas of the great rivers of the Southeast Asia. It is omnivorous. It feeds on algae, aquatic plants, insects, crustaceans, and small fishes. It is farmed for human consumption in rivers, reservoirs and fish ponds.

Información sobre Bamboo carp

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Chinese alligator

Alligator sinensis

It lives in subtropical areas like wetlands and swamps. It is an opportunistic species and its diet is very varied consisting mainly of aquatic invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, birds and small mammals. Females bury their eggs with mud, sticks and plants. The incubation temperature of the nest will determine what sex the offspring will be. The reason why this species is on the edge of extinction has been mostly due to conversion of its habitat to agricultural and fishing uses. There are specific breeding and re-establishing programs in order to save this species.

Información sobre Chinese alligator

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Common water monitor

Varanus salvator

It is a quick and fast lizard. The powerful muscles of its legs allow it to run long distances and to chase and hunt its preys. It can also climb trees. Its diet consists of small mammals, birds, eggs and animal carcass. It builds dens in the river banks, where it deposits its eggs. It also uses rotting logs or termite mounds to lay its eggs. It is an excellent swimmer that can stay underwater up to 30 minutes.

Información sobre Common water monitor

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Giant Gourami

Osphronemus goramy

It lives in slow-moving areas such as swamps and rivers. It is capable of living out of water for long periods. It is a voracious species eating everything it can gulp. It builds bubble nests using weeds and twigs where it spawns. It guards jealously the eggs until the breeding leaves the nest. It is used for human consumption.

Información sobre Giant Gourami

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Gold fish

Carassius auratus

Native to East Asia.Lives in small groups in quiet, well-vegetated muddy areas with cool waters. Moves along the surface of the water with its mouth open looking for food or burrows in the bottom mud to stir up the substrate.

Información sobre Gold fish

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Silver shark

Balantiocheilos melanopterus

Native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers, Sumatra and Borneo. Lives in midwater depths of rivers and lakes with slightly acidic waters. It is gregarious and feeds on phytoplankton, small crustaceans, insects and larvae. It is increasingly scarce and has become rare in some basins of its native range due to overfishing and water pollution.

Información sobre Silver shark

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Spotted pond turtle

Geoclemys hamiltonii

This diurnal reptile inhabits rivers and lakes of slow moving waters with abundant vegetation. It feeds on snails, fish, invertebrates and plants. It reaches up to 40 cm length (1.3 ft). This shy species will spend a great deal of time beneath water. Significant numbers are caught for the consumption trade.

Información sobre Spotted pond turtle

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Striped catfish

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

It is a migratory fish of big size. In rainy season it goes to the upper course of the river to spawn. It returns downriver when the water level drops. It feeds on crustaceans, algae, plankton and fishes. It is a pacific species with nocturnal habits It lives in the Mekong basin.

Información sobre Striped catfish

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Thai shark

Pangasius sanitwongsei

It can be found in the Mekong basins in Indochina and it can reach up to 3 m. Its fins are large and its horizontal mouth becomes well developed. It is a voracious species. It is armed with big bristles in its dorsal and pectoral fins that aid in grasping its preys.

Información sobre Thai shark

Animal Species of Indo-Pacifico M. fluvial

Yellowcheek

Elopichthys bambusa

It reaches up to 2 m in lenght. It is a fish that can be found in river mouth or in floodplains of Russia, China and Vietnam. It feeds on small fishes. This species reaches maturity at six years of age. For reproduction, it travels up to the middle part of the river course.

Información sobre Yellowcheek