The giant salmon carp[2] (Aaptosyax grypus), also termed the Mekong giant salmon carp,[1] is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae and the single species in the monotypic genus Aaptosyax.[3] 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.[1]
| Giant salmon carp | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Genus: | Aaptosyax Rainboth, 1991 |
| Species: | A. grypus |
| Binomial name | |
| Aaptosyax grypus Rainboth, 1991 | |
This fish can reach a length of 130 centimetres (51 in) and weight of 30 kilograms (66 lb).[2] Until 2022 no adult individuals had been seen of this species, until a specimen was found at a fish market.[4]