Osphronemus exodon
| Osphronemus exodon | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Osphronemidae |
| Genus: | Osphronemus |
| Species: | O. exodon |
| Binomial name | |
| Osphronemus exodon (T. R. Roberts, 1994) | |
The elephant ear gourami (Osphronemus exodon) is a species of gourami native to the Mekong in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Distribution and habitat
In the wild, the elephant ear gourami is found in the Mekong river basin of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.[2] During the wet season, they are found in flooded forests and floodplains. During the dry season, they are found in permanent bodies of water
Description
Adults can grow up to 60 centimetres (24 in). Like other species of the genus Osphronemus, juveniles and adults of this species have physical differences. Juveniles have 6 or 7 vertical stripes and a spot on the back, which fades as they get older. A red orange stripe appears around the bottom of the head when a juvenile grows up to about around 10 centimetres (3.9 in). Adults are pale on its fins and blackish on its body.
Conversation
Elephant ear gouramis are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.[1] Dams in the Mekong disrupted the wet and dry season cycle which lowered the population of this species.
Reproduction
Adults reproduce in non flowing waters. They build nests with leaves and roots then one parent guards the nest.
References
- 1 2 http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/169508/0
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2015). "Osphronemus exodon" in FishBase. March 2015 version.