Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

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HaakonH
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Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

Post by HaakonH »

What is this fantastic thing? Is it for real? Something large from Asian waters, that's all I know...

sorry if this has been posted already, this section of Catfish is not my speciality :ymblushing:

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Silurus
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Re: Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

Post by Silurus »

It's a
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
with some kind of genetic defect for color. All of the chromatophores seem to be highly aggregated in parts of the body, causing some areas to be albinistic and others to be very dark.
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HaakonH
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Re: Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

Post by HaakonH »

Thanks for clearing that up :D

It's still a fantastic specimen though. I assume this kind of pigment defect is not encountered very often!

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Re: Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

Post by Jools »

I have seen this once in a large North American catfish too. A long time ago...

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Viktor Jarikov
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Re: Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

Post by Viktor Jarikov »

Striking. Does anyone know if this kind of coloration transient or permanent?
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Re: Large Asian "Orca-like" thing!

Post by naturalart »

Makes for a striking organism! But considering it a genetic abnormality I would call it 'permanent' on a genetic level and 'transient' on an occurrence level. This occurs in organisms outside of the fish group also.
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