Climbing fish and bush fish

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Climbing fish and bush fish
Bushfish (Ctenopoma acutirostre or C. oxyrhynchum)

Bushfish ( Ctenopoma acutirostre or C. oxyrhynchum )

Systematics
Acanthomorphata
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Climbing fish species (Anabantiformes)
Subordination : Labyrinth fish (Anabantoidei)
Family : Climbing fish and bush fish
Scientific name
Anabantidae
Bonaparte , 1832

The climbing fish and bush fish (Anabantidae; Greek “anabas” = aorist from “anabainein” = to climb) are a family of labyrinth fish (Anabantoidei) from the order of the Anabantiformes .

features

The moderately elongated to slightly high-backed fish are 3.5 to 30 centimeters long. Its mouth is relatively large, and the jaw, vormer and parasphenoid have conical teeth. The upper jaw is only slightly protractile (can be pushed forward). The preoperculum is partly covered with fine thorn fields. Climbing and bush fish have noticeably long dorsal and anal fins and are usually monochrome brown. The dorsal fin begins just behind the pectoral fin attachment, the anal fin is a little shorter. The latter is supported by 10 to 20 hard rays and the same number or fewer soft rays. The caudal fin is rounded or ends straight. If the dorsal, caudal and anal fins are spread, they form an almost seamless fin border. Some bush fish have spots or stripes in different shades of brown. They have only a few gill pots rays .

Way of life

A climbing fish leaves the water. Drawing by Richard Lydekker

Climbing and bush fish mainly inhabit stagnant or slowly flowing waters overgrown with vegetation. They are true to location and form small areas. Anabas species are able to leave the water and, with the help of their pelvic fins and the gill cover , crawl over land or climb branches protruding diagonally into the water. Bushfish usually feed on a carnivorous diet .

Reproduction

Most climbing fish and bush fish are free-spawners , the eggs are lighter than the water and float on the surface. Like many other labyrinth fish, the species of the genus Microctenopoma build a foam nest on the surface of the water, in which the eggs are laid and then guarded by the male until the fish larvae hatch.

Systematics and distribution

The 34 species belong to four genera , of which the two species of climbing fish ( anabas ) live in India , Southeast Asia and China , the species of the genera Ctenopoma and Microctenopoma known as bush fish in tropical Africa south of the Sahara, and the two Sandelia species in South Africa are at home.

Sandelia capensis

literature

Web links

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