|
Additional information (Wiki):
The gourami or gouramis are a
family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater
perciform fishes. The fish are native to
Asia, from Pakistan and India to the
Malay Archipelago and north-easterly
towards Korea. The name "gourami" is
also used for fish of the families
Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis"
is an example of a redundant plural.
Gourami is already plural, in its
original language.
Many gouramis have an elongated ray at
the front of their pelvic fins. Many
species show parental care: some are
mouthbrooders, and others, like the
Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens),
build bubble nests. Currently, about 90
species are recognised, placed in 4
subfamilies and about 15 genera.
The name Polyacanthidae has also been
used for this family. Some fish now
classified as gouramis were previously
placed in family Anabantidae. The
subfamily Belontiinae was recently
demoted from the family Belontiidae. As
labyrinth fishes, gouramis have a
lung-like labyrinth organ that allows
them to gulp air and use atmospheric
oxygen. This organ is a vital innovation
for fishes that often inhabit warm,
shallow, oxygen-poor water. |
 |