The Mekong or Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth-longest river and the third-longest in Asia with an estimated length of 4,909 km (3,050 mi) and a drainage area of 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi), discharging 475 km3 (114 cu mi) of water annually. From its headwaters in the Tibetan Plateau, the river runs through Southwest China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and southern 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 Tibet and Southeast Asia. The construction of hydroelectric dams along the Mekong in the 2000s through the 2020s has caused serious problems for the river's ecosystem, including the exacerbation of drought.
The Mekong giant catfish, is a large, threatened species of catfish in the shark catfish family (Pangasiidae), native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia and adjacent China. It is considered critically endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss.
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.
The Mekong snail-eating turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae. It was monotypic within the genus Malayemys until Brophy reevaluated Malayemys macrocephala, which has been long time considered to be a synonym of M. subtrijuga.
The Mekong freshwater stingray, Hemitrygon laosensis, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, restricted to the Mekong and Chao Phraya Rivers in Laos and Thailand; the occurrence in Chao Phraya is considered an introduction. Measuring up to 62 cm (24 in) across, this ray has an oval pectoral fin disc, a tail with both upper and lower fin folds, and a midline row of spine-like dermal denticles. A characteristic feature of this species is its bright orange underside. The Mekong freshwater stingray preys on invertebrates and is aplacental viviparous. It has been assessed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as it is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation.
Poropuntius laoensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Poropuntius from the Mekong in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. It is found in clear forested streams and is not found in large rivers. Id does not persist in impoundments and is not known to migrate. It feeds mainly on insect larvae.
Schistura magnifluvis is a species of ray-finned fish, a stone loach, in the genus Schistura. It is found in the middle Mekong basin in Thailand and Laos, from the Nam Heung basin to the Xe Don system, it probably occurs in Cambodia too. It is found in streams and rivers, including the nmain channel of the Mekong, in stretches of moderate to fast current over a variety of substrates from mud to stone.
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is a freshwater fish native to large parts of Southeast Asia. It is of interest as a local food source and for the aquarium trade. Its common names include honey sucker, sucking loach and Chinese algae eater.
Parasikukia is a genus of cyprinid fish containing a single species, P. maculata. It is found in the Mekong in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia as well as the Mae Klong, Chao Phraya and south eastern river systems in Thailand and the westward drainages of the Cardamom Hills in Cambodia.
Sikukia is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cyprinidae, the family which includes the carps, barbs and related fishes. This fishes in this genus are found in eastern Asia.
Oryzias mekongensis is a species of fish in the family Adrianichthyidae. It is endemic to the Mekong River Basin in southeast Asia, where it is found in ditches, canals and ponds.
Boesemania is a monospecific genus of freshwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. This genus contains the single species Boesemania microlepis. Also known as the Boeseman croaker and smallscale croaker, this fish lives in southeast Asian rivers.
Crossocheilus reticulatus is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae from Southeast Asia. It grows to 17 cm (6.7 in) standard length.
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.
Parachela siamensis is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the carp and minnow family Cyprinidae.
Sikukia stejnegeri is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae, the family which includes the carps, barbs and related fishes. This species is found in Southeast Asia.
The elephant ear gourami is a large species of gourami native to the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
The Mekong flying barb is a species of cyprinid found in Mekong river basins in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.
Paradiplozoon yunnanense is a species of monogenean of the family Diplozoidae. As in all species of this family, the bodies of the two hermaphroditic members of a couple are permanently fused for life.
Sikukia flavicaudata is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae, the family which includes the carps, barbs and related fishes. This fish is found in the upper Mekong river system, in Yunnan, it has also been recored in Laos, and may be found in Myanmar and northern Thailand.
