Sphaerichthys is a genus of gouramis native to Southeast Asia known as chocolate gourami.[2] These species live mostly in blackwater rivers/swamps with acidic water. They have dark-light brownish hues with the exception being the female of S. vaillanti which can be dark reddish brown with green-dark blue/black stripes. They are shy fish that are hard to find because of their camouflage which when in action makes them look like a dead leaf floating along the river.
| Sphaerichthys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sphaerichthys osphromenoides | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anabantiformes |
| Family: | Osphronemidae |
| Subfamily: | Luciocephalinae |
| Genus: | Sphaerichthys Canestrini, 1860 |
| Type species | |
| Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Canestrini, 1860[1]
| |
Species
editThere are currently four recognized species in this genus:[2]
- Sphaerichthys acrostoma Vierke, 1979 (Giant chocolate gourami)
- Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Canestrini, 1860 (Chocolate gourami)
- Sphaerichthys selatanensis Vierke, 1979 (Crossband chocolate gourami)
- Sphaerichthys vaillanti Pellegrin, 1930 (Valliant's chocolate gourami)
S. acrostoma, S. selatanesis, and S. vaillanti are found in Borneo (Kalimantan), while S. osphromenoides is found in Sumatra and Malaysia.
References
edit- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Sphaerichthys". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Sphaerichthys". FishBase. February 2014 version.
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