The Mekong is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth longest river and the seventh longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 4,350 km (2,703 mi), and it drains an area of 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi), discharging 475 km3 (114 cu mi) of water annually. From the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls in the Mekong make navigation difficult. Even so, the river is a major trade route between western China and Southeast Asia.
The Chao Phraya is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand.
The giant barb, Siamese giant carp, or simply Siamese carp, is the largest species of cyprinid in the world. These migratory fish are found only in the Mae Klong, Mekong, and Chao Phraya River basins in Indochina. Populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss and overfishing, and the giant barb is now considered critically endangered.
Discherodontus halei is a species of cyprinid fish from Southeast Asia. It appears to have a disjunct range; it is known from Pahang River in western Peninsular Malaysia and from the Tapi River in southern Thailand, as well as from the northern Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand. This species can reach a length of 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) TL.
Discherodontus is a genus of small cyprinid fishes found in rivers and streams in Mainland Southeast Asia and Yunnan in China.
Betta smaragdina, the emerald green betta, blue betta or Mekong fighting fish, Thai: ปลากัดเขียว or ปลากัดอีสาน is a species of betta fish native to Thailand and Laos, where they are found in the basins of the Mekong, Chao Phraya river mostly found at mun and Chi rivers in Isan region, Thailand. This species grows to a length of 7 cm (2.8 in). They get their green and blue colors due to refraction and interference of light that come from hexagonal crystals that are less than .3 to .5 miera. This species is also found in the aquarium trade.
Poropuntius angustus is a species of cyprinid fish. It is endemic to the Mekong Basin and is currently only known from a few tributaries of Mekong in Laos. It grows to 12 cm (4.7 in) SL. It lives mainly in small forest streams.
Balitora annamitica is a species of hill-stream loach from the Mekong River Basin in Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, and possibly Vietnam. It might be more than one species.
Balitora lancangjiangensis is a species of hill-stream loach from the Mekong and Red River basins. Sources differ in distribution, but all list Yunnan (China) and Laos, and at least the International Union for Conservation of Nature also lists Vietnam, Burma, and Thailand.
Barbodes colemani is a species of cyprinid fish. It is endemic to Thailand and restricted to the upper Chao Phraya River basin. It is an uncommon species that inhabits streams and river tributaries, occasionally the mainstreams. Its placement in the genus Barbodes is not universally accepted and the Catalog of Fishes places this species in the genus Discherodontus.
Crossocheilus reticulatus is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae from Southeast Asia. It grows to 17 cm (6.7 in) standard length.
Discherodontus ashmeadi, commonly known as the redtail barb, is a fish native to the lower Mekong river basin in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. It inhabits both the mainstream Mekong and its tributaries, as well as lakes and reservoirs connected to rivers. It grows to 13.6 cm (5.4 in) SL. It is present in mixed fisheries but is not an important fishery species.
Osteochilus lini is a freshwater fish from Southeast Asia. It is found in the lower Mekong River basin, the Chao Phraya River basin, and some coastal drainages; it occurs in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Its common name is dusky face carp.
Osteochilus vittatus is a species of cyprinid fish from Southeast Asia. Its common name is bonylip barb, hard-lipped barb, or silver sharkminnow. It grows to 32 cm (13 in) SL.
Sikukia gudgeri is the scientific name for a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that is found in Thailand.
The elephant ear gourami is a large species of gourami native to the Mekong in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Nandus oxyrhynchus is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Nandidae. It is native to the Mekong River Basin, Chao Phraya River Basin, and Mae Klong River Basin. It occurs in slow flowing and still waters in streams, rivers, pond and lakes. It is a carnivorous fish preying on other fishes and larger invertebrates.
Badis ruber is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the family Badidae. It is found in Mekong, Salween and Irrawaddy basins in China, Laos and Thailand.
Polynemus aquilonaris, commonly known as the northern paradise fish, is a fish of the threadfin family Polynemidae. It is native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins.
The Mekong flying barb is a species of cyprinid found in Mekong river basins in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.
