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Download the WFMD 2016 Factsheet WHAT IS THIS FISH? The World’s Giant, Endangered Migratory Fish Mekong giant catfish Taimen One of the largest and most iconic fi sh of Or the giant Eurasian trout, isn’t known for Southeast Asia, the Mekong giant catf ish is long distance migrati ons, and yet populati ons symbolic of the health of the Mekong River. A of taimen decline in rivers that are fragmented Mekong River endemic, the huge fi sh grows to or dammed. Taimen seem to do best in free 10 feet and 650 pounds. It makes long distance fl owing rivers. Research from Mongolia shows migrati ons out of the Tonle Sap Lake and into that taimen are capable of movements of over the mainstream Cambodian Mekong. Geneti c 100 miles and oft en return to the same sites evidence suggests that the Mekong giant year aft er year. While more study is needed, catf ish also migrates from Cambodia into Lao it’s clear that taimen do best in healthy rivers PDR and Thailand, a journey of almost 1000 with clean water and abundant prey. miles. ©Brant Allen White sturgeon Freshwater sawfish Are found from California to Alaska. Most Sawfi sh get their name from their saw-like populati ons are anadromous, migrati ng FRESHWATER SAWFISH snout. Freshwater sawfi sh spend the early from fresh water to the sea and back again part of their life in fresh water, then move to complete their life cycle. White sturgeon into coastal waters as they mature. Habitat populati ons are healthiest in undammed degradati on, as well as dams and overfi shing stretches of the Columbia and Sacramento have taken their toll on the freshwater sawfi sh Rivers and largely free fl owing secti ons like the which is now listed as Criti cally Endangered. Fraser. ©Brant Allen Mississippi paddlefish Bull shark A unique fi sh with a long paddle-like snout, is Believe it or not their are several species of found in the Mississippi River basin in the central sharks that migrate between fresh and salt United States. Capable of reaching lengths of water. The most common, and well known, is over 6 feet and weights in excess of 200 pounds the bull shark, that has been found hundreds of the American paddlefi sh is one of the largest miles up the Amazon, Mississippi, and Zambezi freshwater fi sh in North America. Healthy Rivers. Less well known, and much rarer, are populati ons are found in the free fl owing the freshwater sharks of northern Australia secti ons of the upper Missouri and Yellowstone - namely the speartooth and northern river Rivers, where paddlefi sh migrate from lakes sharks. These two species occur in fresh and and reservoirs to rivers to fi nd the conditi ons brackish water, especially when young. Adults that they need to spawn successfully. seem to move back to coastal areas to breed and pup. WHAT IS THIS FISH? The World’s Giant, Endangered Migratory Fish Golden dorado Piraiba With it’s striking appearance, reputati on as an Is one of South America’s largest freshwater excellent sport fi sh, and status as an important fi sh. It can grow to over 8 feet in length and commercial species, the golden dorado is one weigh more than 300 pounds. It makes epic of the most famous fi sh in South America. migrati ons up and down the Amazon - from Studies have shown that the golden dorado the headwaters in Columbia, Ecuador, and is also a highly migratory species, moving Peru down to the Amazon estuary in Brazil. It’s hundreds of miles along the Parana River in one of many commercially important Amazon Argenti na and Uruguay. Like many migratory catf ish that make long distance migrati ons species, the dorado crosses internati onal throughout the basin. borders - and while it doesn’t need a passport, ©Zeb Hogan the transboundary nature of its life cycle can ©Zeb Hogan make management more diffi cult. Giant Freshwater Stingray The giant freshwater sti ngray Himantura polylepis is one of the world’s largest Longfin eel GIANT FRESHWATER STINGRAY freshwater fi sh. It occurs in large rivers of Is New Zealand’s largest and longest lived Southeast Asia, including the Mekong, Chao freshwater fi sh, capable of living over 100 Phraya, Banpakong, and Maeklong Rivers. The years of age and reaching lengths of over 7 migratory behavior of the giant freshwater feet. The longfi n eel makes one of the most sti ngray is not well understood - it occurs over impressive migrati ons of any animal: born 700km up the Mekong River, and in the Chao in the open ocean the young eels fi nd their Phraya River as far upstream as central Thailand ©Zeb Hogan way to freshwater rivers and streams, reside but is also found in estuaries and river deltas. in fresh water their enti re lives, then migrate Movement between marine and fresh water back to the ocean at the end of their lives to is not thought to be a necessary stage of its spawn. These migrati ons can span thousands life history but pregnant females are common of miles and take years. in the brackish water of the lower Maeklong River and the area may be a pupping ground. Chinese sturgeon The species is listed as Endangered by IUCN. Were once a familiar sight in the Yangtze River. A huge fi sh, capable to growing to over 12 Chinook salmon feet in length and 1000 pounds, the massive Is the largest species of Pacifi c salmon, growing fi sh was also a profi cient traveler, migrati ng to almost 5 feet in length and weighing over 100 from the ocean to fresh water to spawn. Dam pounds. Famous for epic migrati ons all along building in the Yangtze River blocked access to CHINOOK SALMON the Pacifi c coast of North America, the Chinook upstream spawning grounds and over the last salmon travels as far inland as Idaho, Montana, 30 to 40 years the Chinese sturgeon populati on and the interior of Alaska, someti mes spawns has declined dramati cally. The sturgeon’s at elevati ons higher than 6000 feet. migratory cousin, the Chinese paddlefi sh, may already be exti nct. ©Zeb Hogan.
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