The Anabantidae are a family of perciformfish 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 Philippines. They are primarily a freshwater and only very rarely found in brackish water. An egg_layer, they typically guard their eggs and young.
There are about 39 species in the family, classified in 4 genera (3 according to some authors). The familiar aquarium resident, the Siamese Fighting FishBetta splendens used to be classified in this family, but is now placed among the gouramies, family Osphronemidae. The genus Sandelia specifically has scales only in the cycloid form., few gill rakers, and generally a carnivorous diet.
References
"Anabantidae" (TSN 172583) (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=172583). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. N.p.: Integrated Taxonomic Information System, 2004. Accessed on April 28, 2004.
"Anabantidae" (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?Family=Anabantidae). FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. September 2004 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2004.
Good sanctuary areas should be located high up in the rivers where the fish naturally occurs so as to avoid many of the negative impacts which occur lower in the river systems, such as poor water quality, excessive water abstraction and alien predatory fish species.
Cambray, J.A. The early ontogeny of the Cape kurper, Sandelia capensis (Pisces: Anabantidae).
Age and growth of Sandelia bainsii Castelnau (Pisces: Anabantidae) in the Tyume River, eastern Cape (South Africa).
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