Despite its name, iriescent shark, Pangasius hypophthalmus is not a shark, but a catfish. This fish is also known as Siamese shark or sutchi catfish in the aquarium hobby or as tra, swai, or striped catfish in the food fish market, and occasionally incorrectly as basa and panga (though these names should be rather used for Pangasius bocourti and Pterogymnus laniarius, respectively). The species is found in Southeast Asia in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya river, and is heavily cultivated for food there. It has also been introduced into other river basins as a food source and is common in the fishkeeping hobby. It is named for its glow or iridescence exhibited in juveniles.