| Osphronemidae (Gouramies), subfamily: Trichogastrinae |
| 15 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6 - 8; dH range: 5 - 19, potamodromous |
| Asia: Mekong basin in Laos, Yunnan, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam; Southeast Asia (Ref. 27732). Introduced elsewhere (Ref. 2847). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 6-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-10; Anal spines: 9-12; Anal soft rays: 30-38. Color in life brown; shoulders with irregular dark marks, yellowish on opercles and thorax; median fins and pectorals brown, ventrals yellowish. Mouth very small, very oblique, upper jaw vertical and somewhat protractile, lower jaw prominent. Scales of moderate size, irregularly arranged. Lateral line curved, irregular. Caudal fin slightly emarginate or truncate (Ref. 4792). With 8-9 dorsal-fin branched rays; 33-38 branched anal-fin rays; black spot in middle of side and at caudal-fin base (Ref. 12693). Body with numerous narrow irregular oblique bars (Ref. 43281). |
| Lives in lowland wetlands (Ref. 57235). Found in marshes, swamps and canals (Ref. 43281). Inhabits shallow sluggish or standing-water with a lot of aquatic vegetation. Occurs in seasonally flooded forests throughout the middle and lower Mekong (Ref. 12693). Undertakes lateral migrations from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season and returns to the permanent water bodies at the onset of the dry season (Ref. 37770). An air-breathing species (Ref. 118402). Feeds on zooplankton, crustaceans and insect larvae. Processed into salted, dried fish in Java (Ref. 4929). Also marketed fresh and commonly seen in the aquarium fish trade (Ref. 12693). Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 100 cm (Ref. 51539). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 January 2019 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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Found in Mekong, Chao Phraya, Maeklong, Salween, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand river systems (Ref. 26336). In Chiang Khong and Nong Khai Provinces, it is uncommon in the Mekong River, but common in small streams and canals (Ref. 37770). At Mukdahan, it migrates from the Mekong River into its tributaries (Ref. 37770). Museum: Mekong mainstream between Pak Ing and Jom Paeng (about 4-5 km downstream), CAS 96774 (Ref. 5515); also from Tale Sap Songkhla, Bangkok, Metang (Chiang Mai), Mepoon (Phrae), Phitsanulok, Rayong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani and Bung Borapet (Nakhon Sawan) (Ref. 37773). Also Ref. 9648, 36654, 57235. |
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