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This species is a popular food fish in it's native countries. It is not often seen for sale these days, although it is both beautiful and peaceful. The alternative common name of 'Giant Gourami' is not particularly apt, although it is the largest species in the genus. Like others in the suborder Anabantoidei, the species possesses an accessory breathing organ known as the labyrinth organ. So-called due to its maze-like structure, this organ allows the fish to breathe atmospheri...

Despite its ease of keeping and peaceable nature, this species is not particularly popular in the hobby, although it is imported quite regularly. A gold or 'sunset' strain exists, in which the barred patterning is replaced by an overall orange/gold colouration. This is not a natural variation, but has been selectively bred for the trade. The female of this form is almost as colourful as the male. Like others in the suborder Anabantoidei, the species possesses an accessory breathing...

The Dwarf Gourami is one of the most ubiquitous freshwater species in the aquarium hobby, and is unarguably a beautiful fish. Several colour forms have been line-bred for the trade and have also proved popular. These include "Sunset" (also sold as "Red" or "Robin") and "Neon" varieties, although it's highly debatable whether these come close to matching the brilliance of the natural form. Unfortunately the general quality of dwarf gouramis availab...

It can be distinguished from congeners by its small adult size and presence of a single solid dark midlateral stripe on the body, above which is a series of dark blotches forming a second stripe. In the similar but larger, T. schalleri the upper stripe is more variable depending on the mood of the fish, sometimes fading entirely.

Known from the lower Mekong River basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, plus tributaries of the Chao Phraya watershed in central Thailand, and drainages between the Chao Phraya and Mekong in eastern Thailand. Type locality is 'Nam-Mun at Korat, 135 miles northeast of Bangkok, Thailand'.

The common name is derived from the ability of genus members to produce audible sounds via a specialised pectoral mechanism which is unique within the family Osphronemidae. The structure comprises modified pectoral-fin tendons and muscles which are stretched and plucked by basal elevations of two fin rays in a similar way to guitar strings via rapid beating of the fins. The pectoral-fins beat alternately, each able to generate short or long bursts of sound. These sounds are produced by both sexes, predom...

An incredibly hardy and adaptable species that is not so popular in the hobby as it once was, probably due to its often aggressive nature. As with other goodeids, there is less of a size difference between the sexes than in many other livebearers. This is thought to be related to the relatively primitive structure of the andropodium, as the fish tend to choose mates that are of similar size so that the sex organs are synchronised. Goodeids are unique among livebearers in that the developi...

Another massively popular aquarium fish, with dozens of selectively bred varieties available, including mickey mouse, wagtail, tuxedo, moon, blue, red, comet and hi-fin. Some of these are produced by crossbreeding with X.helleri or X. variatus. Unfortunately many commercially bred platies are not very hardy due to inbreeding and over-production and are prone to disease and premature death. Wild fish are almost never seen in the hobby. As long as the ph remains above neutral this fish is ...

Another massively popular aquarium fish, with dozens of selectively bred varieties available. Some of these are produced by crossbreeding with X.helleri or X. maculatus. Unfortunately many commercially bred platies are not very hardy due to inbreeding and over-production and are prone to disease and premature death. The wild X. variatus can be distinguished from X. maculatus by its slimmer, more elongated body shape and slightly longer dorsal fin. This last feature has been seized upon by many...

Type locality is close to a waterfall on the Ndian River in southwestern Cameroon, and appears restricted to the coastal plains either side of the border between Cameroon and Nigeria, including the Korup and Cross River National Parks.

Described from 'Buala, Cameroon', which corresponds to modern-day Bouala in Central African Republic. It's known distribution includes parts of northern Cameroon, western Central African Republic, southeastern Chad and possibly eastern Nigeria in the upper Benue and Mayo Kébbi river systems. The specific name was mis-used to refer to various populations of the congener A. elberti prior to 1990, and we've been unable to confirm if the specimen pictured here is correctly identified or not. It is listed as 'endangered' by the IUCN.

The type material was derived from a commercial shipment of fishes from Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and presumed to have been collected in the vicinity. The precise extent of its distribution unknown but appears extensive in the middle and lower Congo regions, with specimen collected from Lac Fwa (Sankuru River drainage, a Congo River tributary), many hundreds of kilometres west of Kinshasa, identified as belonging to this species.

The type series was derived from a commercial shipment and this species' natural range remains unconfirmed. It may be restricted to the area between the Kwango and Gamba rivers, the latter a tributary of the former, in western Democratic Republic of Congo. The Kwango is itself a tributary of the Kasai, an affluent of the Congo.

Type locality is the settlement of Bessou, Lobaye prefecture, Central African Republic, which lies within the Ubangi (also spelled Oubangui) River basin. The Ubangi is a major tributary of the Congo River and this species appears restricted to its middle section and thus probably extends into northern Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Described from Río Muni, Equatorial Guinea and appears endemic to south-western parts of the country, with additional collections having occurred in the Río Aye, Río Ecucu and lower Río Benito drainages.

Type locality is Malinga, located in the middle of the Du Chaillu mountain range in Ngounié province, southern Ghana. This lies very close to Republic of the Congo, and the species may also occur across the border.

Known only from the Batéké plateau region and surrounding area in southeastern Gabon where it's been recorded from the Léconi-Djouya and upper Mpassa rivers, these forming a portion of the much larger Ogooué basin. Type locality is '6 km west of Léconi', the latter presumably referring to the settlement of that name.

Known only from the Ataran River system in Kayin state, Myanmar. The Ataran forms the headwaters of part of the larger Salween drainage, and some of its tributaries extend across the nearby border into Thailand, where it’s known as the Kasat. Type locality is 'Stream ''Chon Son' between Kyondaw and Phadaw, about 20 kilometers north...

Channa stewartii

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