Pseudolais is a genus of shark catfish in the family Pangasiidae, the same family as the well-known Pangasius food and aquarium fishes. Native to major river systems of mainland and island Southeast Asia - drainages spanning Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia - the genus's 2 species in the atlas are substantial fish, 15.5–39.5 in, with the streamlined, silvery, shark-like profile and forked tail typical of pangasiids, adapted to open water in large, often turbid rivers.
The shortbarbel pangasius (Pseudolais micronemus) and shortbarbel shark catfish (P. pleurotaenia) are known mainly as regional food fish; their large adult size and schooling, open-water habits make them impractical subjects for typical home aquaria. Both species carry a Least Concern IUCN rating, though pangasiid catfish across mainland Southeast Asia's major rivers generally face pressure from damming, overfishing, and habitat change - a broader regional concern that can outpace formal reassessment of any one species.