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Gourami

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iGouramies
Dwarf gourami (Colisa lalia)
Dwarf gourami (Colisa lalia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Anabantoidei
Family: Osphronemidae
Subfamilies

Belontiinae
Macropodinae
Osphroneminae
Luciocephalinae
See text for genera and species.

The gouramis or gouramies 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.

Many gouramies 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 13 genera.

The name Polyacanthidae has also been used for this family. Some fish now classified as gouramies 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.

Contents

[edit] Species

There are about 96 species in 15 genera.

[edit] See also

The name "gourami" is used of several other related fish that are now placed in different families:


[edit] References

[edit] Gallery

de:Fadenfische

fa:گورامی fr:Gourami it:Osphronemidae ja:グラミー pl:Guramiowate pt:Osphronemidae

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