Trichopodus

A mosaic gouramis

The genus Trichopodus (formerly Trichogaster ) includes labyrinth fish, which are widespread throughout Southeast Asia.

Features

The representatives of this genus the first ray of ventral fin is extended thread-like long, the other two to three beams are extremely shortened and barely visible. This string is passed in the applied state to tail fin base and has taste buds with which the fish can recognize conspecifics. In contrast to the gourami Trichogaster genus of the dorsal fin is much shorter than the anal fin in the species of this genus. The body is long, depending on the kind of between twelve and 20 cm. Like most labyrinth fish also feed them mainly on zooplankton such as small crustaceans, molluscs, insects and their larvae, as well as approach food, so insects that land on the water surface.

Occurrence

The original range of this genus is no longer safe to reconstruct, but is probably on the hinterinidschen Peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago west of the Wallace Line. Meanwhile, however, most species are spread by its use as a food fish as neozoon far over the South Asia.

The fish live in shallow, slow-flowing or stagnant waters that are shaded or overgrown. Some species are also found in rice fields.

Reproduction

For reproduction, the males occupy territories and build it between water plants a foam nest. Through courtship, the male attracts a female to mate ready under the bubble nest. During mating, nest under the floating eggs are delivered depending on the type, several hundred to a few thousand, the rise in the nest because of their oil drop by itself. Then the direct vicinity of the nest is guarded by the males and the females expelled from the immediate vicinity. The larvae hatch, depending on temperature and type after 24-48 hours, and are held passively by an oily yolk sac and active by the male in the nest. After a few days, the larvae leave the nest and are not maintained by the males.

Use

In their homeland all representatives be used as a food fish and partly cultivated. The blue form of the Spotted thread fish and the Mosaic Gourami also count as aquarium fish of the standard range of pet stores. From the Spotted Gourami exist resulting from several cultivated forms.

System

The genus was erected in 1801 by Lacepede without type species, and contained the Spotted Gourami and the giant gourami. Between 1829 and 1831 separated Cuvier the gouramis and giant gouramis in today recognized genera on. At the latest in 1879 put the Bleeker the Spotted Gourami as type species for the Eastern gouramis under the generic name Trichopodus fixed. However, since 1923 the name was in use Trichogaster until the end of the 20th century and is still very common. The correct scientific name is but Trichopodus, and will also feed back into the scientific literature. The genus name refers to the thread-like pelvic fins out ( " Thrix " = " hair ", " Pous " = " foot or fin" ).

The following species belong to the genus Trichopodus:

• Mosaic Gourami ( Trichopodus leerii ) ( Bleeker, 1852).
• Moonlight Gourami ( Trichopodus microlepis ) ( Günther, 1861).
• Shovel gourami ( Trichopodus pectoralis ) ( Regan, 1910).
• Dotted gourami ( Trichopodus trichopterus ) ( Pallas, 1770).