{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Aaptosyax grypus.JPG | status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Vidthayanon, C. |date=2011 |title=''Aaptosyax grypus'' |volume=2011 |article-number=e.T9A13090494 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T9A13090494.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> | display_parents = 3 | taxon = Aaptosyax grypus | parent_authority = Rainboth, 1991 | authority = Rainboth, 1991 }}
The '''giant salmon carp'''<ref name=FB/> ('''''Aaptosyax grypus'''''), also termed the '''Mekong giant salmon carp''',<ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021" /> is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae and the single species in the monotypic genus '''''Aaptosyax'''''.<ref name=FWP>{{cite web|url=https://www.fishwisepro.com/Genus/Aaptosyax-8|title=Genus Aaptosyax Rainboth 1991 |author= |year=1990 |work=FishWisePro |access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021" />
This fish can reach a length of {{convert|130|cm}} and weight of {{convert|30|kg}}.<ref name=FB>{{cite web|url=https://www.fishbase.org/summary/Aaptosyax-grypus.html|title=''Aaptosyax grypus'' Rainboth, 1991 |author= |year=2011 |work=FishBase |access-date=16 April 2012}}</ref> Between 2004 and 2022 no confirmed sightings of adult individuals of this species were made, until a specimen was found at a fish market<ref>{{Cite web|author=((University of Nevada Reno))|date=2022-09-26|title=Feared extinct, the 'Mekong Ghost' fish resurfaces |url=https://yubanet.com/enviro/feared-extinct-the-mekong-ghost-fish-resurfaces/ |access-date=2024-10-22|website=YubaNet|location=Reno, Nevada|language=en-US}}</ref> in Cambodia.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Christina Larson |date=2024-10-23|title=Giant fish thought to be extinct is spotted in the Mekong River |url=https://apnews.com/article/mekong-river-ghost-fish-1f86a0a56b9f9fafa9b4255e5c8ac9b3 |access-date=2024-10-23|website=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q133980}}
giant salmon carp Category:Freshwater fish of Southeast Asia Category:Taxa named by Walter John Rainboth giant salmon carp Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Leuciscinae-stub}}