''Pao'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of mostly
freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include ...
pufferfish
Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish of the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, blowies, bubblefish, globefish, swellfis ...
with one species (''P. leiurus'') also occurring in
brackish water. They are found in
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
.
[ Until 2013, its species were generally placed in '']Tetraodon
''Tetraodon'' is a genus in the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae) found in freshwater in Africa. It is the type genus of the family and historically included numerous other species; several Asian species were only moved to the genera ''Dichotomy ...
''.[
]
Species
There are currently 15 recognized species in this genus:[Kottelat, M. (2013)]
The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries.
''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Supplement No. 27: 1–663.''[Eschmeyer, W. N., R. Fricke, and R. van der Laan (18 February 2017). ]
Catalog of Fishes.
' Retrieved 18 February 2017.
* ''Pao abei
''Pao abei'' is a species of freshwater pufferfish from the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Mae Klong river basins in Southeast Asia. It is named after Japanese ichthyologist Tokiharu Abe.
They are molluscivores, using the beak-like teeth to break open ...
'' ( T. R. Roberts, 1998)
* ''Pao baileyi
''Pao baileyi'',Kottelat, M. (2013)The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries. ''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Supplement No. ...
'' ( Sontirat, 1989) (Hairy puffer)
* ''Pao barbatus
''Pao barbatus'' is a species of freshwater pufferfish found in the Mekong River in southeast Asia.Saenjundaeng, P., Grudpun, C., & Vidthayanon, C. (2013): Validation of Tetraodon barbatus Roberts, 1998, a Freshwater Pufferfish (Family Tetraodont ...
'' (Roberts, 1998)
* '' Pao bergii'' ( Popta, 1905)
* '' Pao brevirostris'' ( Benl, 1957)
* ''Pao cambodgiensis
''Pao cambodgiensis''Kottelat, M. (2013)The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries. ''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Supplement ...
'' ( Chabanaud, 1923)
* ''Pao cochinchinensis
''Pao cochinchinensis''Kottelat, M. (2013)The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries. ''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Suppleme ...
'' (Steindachner
Franz Steindachner (11 November 1834 in Vienna – 10 December 1919 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. He published over 200 papers on fishes and over 50 papers on reptiles and amphibians. Steindachner describ ...
, 1866)
* ''Pao fangi
''Pao fangi'' is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a tropical freshwater species native to Vietnam. It was classified as a member of the genus ''Tetraodon'' (or ''Tetrodon'', which is the genus that the species was initi ...
'' ( Pellegrin & Chevey, 1940)
* ''Pao hilgendorfii
''Pao hilgendorfii'', sometimes known as Hilgendorf's puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a tropical freshwater species native to the Mahakam basin in Borneo. The species was originally described as a member of ...
'' ( Popta, 1905)
* ''Pao leiurus
''Pao leiurus''Kottelat, M. (2013)The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries. ''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Supplement No. ...
'' (