Elephant ear gourami
| Elephant ear gourami | |
|---|---|
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| immature | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anabantiformes |
| Family: | Osphronemidae |
| Genus: | Osphronemus |
| Species: | O. exodon
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| Binomial name | |
| Osphronemus exodon T. R. Roberts, 1994
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The elephant ear gourami (Osphronemus exodon) is a large species of gourami native to the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Distribution and habitat[edit]
In the wild, the elephant ear gourami is found in the Mekong river basin of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.[2] It is only known for certain from the middle part of the basin, from Kampong Cham Province (central Cambodia) to Sainyabuli Province (northern Laos).[3] The closely related giant gourami (O. goramy) has been reported from the same section, but these records are likely misidentifications of elephant ear gouramis.[4][5] In contrast, reports of elephant ear gouramis from the Mekong Delta are possibly misidentifications of giant gouramis.[3] The only section of the Mekong basin where the giant gourami likely occurs naturally are in the southernmost part, like tributaries originating in the northern Cardamom Mountains.[4][5]
During the wet season, elephant ear gouramis are found in flooded forests and floodplains. During the dry season, they are found in permanent bodies of water, like the Mekong mainstream.[2] Their seasonal movements are triggered by water levels.[3]
Description[edit]
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.
Conservation[edit]
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[edit]
Adults reproduce in non flowing waters. They build nests with leaves and roots then one parent guards the nest.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Jenkins, A.; Kullander, F.F.; Tan, H.H. (2009). "Osphronemus exodon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T169508A6640069. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169508A6640069.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2015). "Osphronemus exodon" in FishBase. March 2015 version.
- ^ a b c Poulsen, A.F., and Valbo-Jørgensen, J. (2000). Fish Migrations and Spawning Habits in the Mekong Mainstream - A Survey using Local Knowledge. AMFC Technical Report. Mekong River Commission, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
- ^ a b Rainboth, W.J. (1996). Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong, p. 218. FAO, United Nations. ISBN 92-5-103743-4.
- ^ a b Roberts, T.R. (1994). Osphronemus exodon, a new species of giant gourami with extraordinary dentition from the Mekong. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 42(1): 67–77