Trichogaster

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Trichogaster
a blue morph of the three spot gourami (T. trichopterus)
a blue morph of the three spot gourami (T. trichopterus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Anabantoidei
Family: Osphronemidae
Subfamily: Luciocephalinae
Genus: Trichogaster
Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Species

see text

Trichogaster is a genus of tropical freshwater labyrinth fish of the gourami family found in Southeast Asia. Gouramis of the Trichogaster genus are closely related to those of Colisa, species of both genera have long, thread-like pelvic fins (known as "feelers" in the aquarium trade) used to sense the environment. However, Trichogaster species have shorter dorsal fin base and, when sexually mature, are much larger, with the largest, the snakeskin gourami (T. pectoralis), capable of reaching a length of over 8 inches.[1]

Along with the Colisa species, Trichogaster gouramis are popular in the aquarium trade. The three spot gourami (T. trichopterus), with its several aquarium variants, each known by a different trade name, is perhaps the most common aquarium gourami. Trichogaster species are also used as food fish in its native range.[1] The snakeskin gourami, in particular, is one of the top five aquacultured freshwater fish in Thailand.[2]

[edit] Species

Both FishBase and Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) list the following four species under this genus.[3] [4]

In addition, FishBase also lists the honey gourami as Trichogaster chuna (Hamilton, 1822), while ITIS lists it differently as Colisa chuna of the Colisa genus.[3] [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Pinter, H. (1986). Labyrinth Fish. Barron's Educational Series, Inc., ISBN 0-8120-5635-3
  2. ^ National Aquaculture Sector Overview - Thailand. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  3. ^ a b "Trichogaster". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. April 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
  4. ^ a b Trichogaster (TSN 172633). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on June 15, 2007.
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