The are a Family of Perciform Fish commonly called the '''labyrinth fish''' but also known as the '''climbing gouramies''' or '''climbing perches'''. Their distinguishing feature is a Labyrinth Organ , a structure in the fish's head which allows them to "breathe" atmospheric Oxygen . Fish of this family are commonly seen gulping at air at the surface of the water; which then passes out of their Gills or mouth when they dive beneath the surface.
The climbing gouramies originate from Africa to India and the Philippines . They are primarily a Freshwater fish and only very rarely found in Brackish water. An egg-layer, they typically guard their eggs and young.
There are about 36 Species in the family, classified in four Genera (three according to some authors). The familiar Aquarium resident, the Siamese Fighting Fish ''Betta splendens'' used to be classified in this family, but is now placed among the Gourami es, family Osphronemidae .
- Genus '' Anabas ''
- --- Gangetic Koi , '' Anabas Cobojius '' (Hamilton, 1822).
- --- Climbing Perch , '' Anabas Testudineus '' ( Bloch , 1792).
- Genus '' Ctenopoma ''
- --- Spotted Ctenopoma , '' Ctenopoma Acutirostre '' Pellegrin, 1899.
- --- Silverbelly Ctenopoma , '' Ctenopoma Argentoventer '' ( Ahl , 1922).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Ashbysmithi '' Banister & Bailey, 1979.
- --- '' Ctenopoma Breviventrale '' (Pellegrin, 1938).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Ctenotis '' ( Boulenger , 1920).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Garuanum '' ( Ahl , 1927).
- --- Tailspot Ctenopoma , '' Ctenopoma Kingsleyae '' Günther , 1896.
- --- '' Ctenopoma Machadoi '' (Fowler, 1930).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Maculatum '' Thominot, 1886.
- --- Manyspined Ctenopoma , '' Ctenopoma Multispine '' Peters, 1844.
- --- Ocellated Labyrinth Fish , '' Ctenopoma Muriei '' ( Boulenger , 1906).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Nebulosum '' Norris & Teugels, 1990.
- --- Twospot Climbing Perch , '' Ctenopoma Nigropannosum '' Reichenow, 1875.
- --- Eyespot Ctenopoma , '' Ctenopoma Ocellatum '' Pellegrin, 1899.
- --- Mottled Ctenopoma , '' Ctenopoma Oxyrhynchum '' ( Boulenger , 1902).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Pellegrini '' ( Boulenger , 1902).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Petherici '' Günther , 1864.
- --- '' Ctenopoma Riggenbachi '' ( Ahl , 1927).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Togoensis '' ( Ahl , 1928).
- --- '' Ctenopoma Weeksii '' Boulenger , 1896.
- Genus '' Microctenopoma ''
- --- Ornate Ctenopoma , '' Microctenopoma Ansorgii '' ( Boulenger , 1912).
- --- Congo Ctenopoma , '' Microctenopoma Congicum '' ( Boulenger , 1887).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Damasi '' (Poll & Damas, 1939).
- --- Banded Ctenopoma , '' Microctenopoma Fasciolatum '' ( Boulenger , 1899).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Intermedium '' (Pellegrin, 1920).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Lineatum '' (Nichols, 1923).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Milleri '' (Norris & Douglas, 1991).
- --- Dwarf Ctenopoma , '' Microctenopoma Nanum '' ( Günther , 1896).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Nigricans '' Norris, 1995.
- --- '' Microctenopoma Ocellifer '' (Nichols, 1928).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Pekkolai '' (Rend Ahl , 1935).
- --- '' Microctenopoma Uelense '' Norris & Douglas, 1995.
- Genus '' Sandelia ''
- --- Eastern Cape Rocky , '' Sandelia Bainsii '' Castelnau , 1861.
- --- Cape Kurper , '' Sandelia Capensis '' ( Cuvier , 1829).
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