Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Osphronemidae (Gouramies) > Osphroneminae
Etymology: Osphronemus: Greek, osphra = smell + Greek, nema = filament; because of the olfactory organs (Ref. 45335); goramy: Malay/Javanese: ikan gurami, name for this species.
More on author: Lacepède.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25; depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 9987). Tropical; 20°C - 30°C (Ref. 13371); 6°N - 9°S
Asia: probably limited to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and Indochina (Mekong basin). Has been introduced to several countries for aquaculture purposes. Apparently absent in Sarawak and presence in Sabah may be due to relatively late introductions.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 70.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12693); common length : 45.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12693)
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 9 - 13; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. With 8-10 complete dark vertical bars in juvenile color phase; adults without vertical bars or sexual dichromatism, both sexes drab; transverse scale rows usually 6.1.12; dorsal fin spines usually 12-13 (rarely 11 or 14); soft-rayed portion of anal fin greatly enlarged, its distal margin parallel to distal margin of caudal fin; caudal fin rounded or obtusely rounded, not truncate or emarginate (Ref. 7425). Pelvic fins with first soft ray prolonged into a thread-like tentacle reaching posteriorly to or beyond hind margin of caudal fin.
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Inhabits swamps, lakes and rivers (Ref. 9987), among vegetation (Ref. 56749). Enters flooded forest (Ref. 9497). Found in medium to large rivers and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals (Ref. 12975). Omnivorous. Feeds on both plants and animals such as some aquatic weeds, fish, frogs, earthworms and sometimes dead animals (Ref. 6459). Can breathe moist air, so can be kept alive for long periods out of water, making it possible to distribute it in areas lacking a cold chain (Ref. 9987). Was reported from miocene deposits in Central Sumatra (Ref. 7426). Utilized fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried and baked (Ref. 9987).
Adults make nests made of plant fibers instead of bubble nests as some publications have claimed (Ref. 127550). This error comes from a misidentification of a species according to Bhimachar et al. (1944).
Roberts, T.R., 1992. Systematic revision of the Southeast Asian anabantoid fish genus Osphronemus, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 2(4):351-360. (Ref. 7425)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01698 (0.00717 - 0.04021), b=3.01 (2.80 - 3.22), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.32 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm > 1).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 33.8 [9.6, 199.4] mg/100g; Iron = 0.483 [0.195, 1.594] mg/100g; Protein = 18.3 [16.0, 20.2] %; Omega3 = 0.111 [0.052, 0.227] g/100g; Selenium = 35 [16, 86] μg/100g; VitaminA = 17.5 [3.7, 80.4] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.41 [0.85, 2.23] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
