H Rahmati-Holasoo - Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran
M Masoodifard - Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran
M Farazandehmehr - Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran
S Davodipoor - Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran
M Ahmadpoor - Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran
A Habibi - Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran

The family Pangasiidae are huge fishes in the Southeast Asia with 28 carnivores andherbivorous species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skeletal structureof Giant pangasius (Pangasius sanitwongsei) and striped catfish (Pangasianodonhypophthalmus). In this study, six healthy carnivores and herbivorous pangasius fish,were procured from the supply centers of ornamental fish in Tehran. Then, they weretransferred alive to the radiology department of Veterinary Medicine Faculty,University of Tehran. Fish were anesthetized using PI222 (100 ppm) and thenradiographed digitally (lateral and dorsoventral projection using mamograph films).The results for the meristic characteristics in Giant pangasius and Striped catfishwere: the number of vertebrae (48-39), neural spines (48-39), hemal spines (25-27),the number of ribs (23-12), dorsal fin rays (7-7), the number of dorsal finpterygiophores (7-7), unbranched anal fin rays (28-31), the number anal finpterygiophores (28-31), the number pectoral fin pterygiophores (1-1), unbranchedcaudal fin rays (45-43). The swim bladder of Giant pangasius had two parts, waselliptical and the posterior part was very small. In striped catfish, the swim bladderhad one part and also was conical.

Giant Pangasius, Striped Catfish, Radiography, Skeleton, Anesthesia