Gouramis, or gouramies , are a group of

freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include ...

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...

es that comprise the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Osphronemidae. The fish are native to

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

—from the

Indian Subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

and northeasterly towards

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. The name "gourami", of

Indonesian Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to: * Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia ** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago ** Indonesian ...

origin, is also used for fish of the families

Helostomatidae Kissing gouramis, also known as kissing fish or kissers (''Helostoma temminckii''), are medium-sized tropical freshwater fish comprising the monotypic labyrinth fish family Helostomatidae (from the Greek ''elos'' tud, nail ''stoma'' outh. These ...

and Anabantidae. Many gouramis have an elongated, feeler-like ray at the front of each of their

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

s. All living species show parental care until fry are free swimming: some are

mouthbrooder Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a va ...

s, like the Krabi mouth-brooding betta (''Betta Simplex''), and others, like the

Siamese fighting fish The Siamese fighting fish (''Betta splendens''), commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 73 species of the genus ''Bett ...

(''Betta splendens''), build

bubble nest Bubble nests, also called foam nests, are created by some fish and frog species as floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, saliva bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants. Fish that build and guard bubble nests are known as aph ...

s. Currently, about 133 species are recognised, placed in four subfamilies and about 15

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

. The name Polyacanthidae has also been used for this family. Some fish now classified as gouramis were previously placed in family Anabantidae. The subfamily Belontiinae was recently demoted from the family Belontiidae. As

labyrinth fish The Anabantoidei are a suborder of anabantiform ray-finned freshwater fish distinguished by their possession of a lung-like labyrinth organ, which enables them to breathe air. The fish in the Anabantoidei suborder are known as anabantoids or ...

es, gouramis have a

lung The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of t ...

-like labyrinth organ that allows them to gulp air and use atmospheric oxygen. This organ is a vital adaptation for fish that often inhabit warm, shallow, oxygen-poor water.

Subfamilies and genera

The family Osphronemidae is divided into the following subfamilies and genera: * family Osphronemidae van der Hoeven, 1832 ** Subfamily Belontiinae

Liem Many ethnic Chinese people have lived in Indonesia for many centuries. Over time, especially under social and political pressure during the New Order era, most Chinese Indonesians have adopted names that better match the local language. History ...

, 1962 *** ''

Belontia ''Belontia'', sometimes referred to combtail gouramies, is a genus of gouramis, the only genus within the subfamily Belontiinae, native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංක ...

Myers Myers as a surname has several possible origins, e.g. Old French ("physician"), Old English ("mayor"), and Old Norse ("marsh"). People *Abram F. Myers (born 1889), chair of the Federal Trade Commission and later general counsel and board chai ...

, 1923 ** Subfamily Osphroneminae van der Hoeven, 1832 *** ''

Osphronemus ''Osphronemus'' is a genus of large gouramis, the only genus within the subfamily Osphroneminae. These fish are known as the giant gouramis and are native to rivers, lakes, pools, swamps and floodplains in Southeast Asia, with ''O. exodon'' fro ...

'' Lacepède, 1801 ** Subfamily Luciocephalinae

Bleeker Bleeker is a Dutch occupational surname. Bleeker is an old spelling of ''(linnen)bleker'' ("linen bleacher").Luciocephalus'' Bleeker, 1851 *** '' Sphaerichthys''

Canestrini Giovanni Canestrini (26 December 1835 – 14 February 1900) was an Italian naturalist and biologist and translator who was a native of Revò. Career He initially studied in Gorizia and Meran, then furthered his education in natural sciences at ...

, 1860 *** '' Ctenops''

McClelland McClelland is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alyssa McClelland, Australian actress * Charles A. McClelland (1917–2006), American political systems analyst * Charles P. McClelland (1854–1944), New York politician, and US ...

, 1845 *** '' Parasphaerichthys'' Prashad & Mukerji, 1929 *** '' Trichopodus'' Lacepède, 1801 ** Subfamily

Macropodusinae The Macropodusinae are a subfamily of freshwater anabantiform fishes in the gourami family Osphronemidae, which includes the paradisefish, fighting fish and licorice gouramis. Like all members of the family, these are air breathing fishes ...

Hoedeman, 1948 *** ''

Betta ''Betta'' is a large genus of small, active, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, in the gourami family (biology), family (Osphronemidae). The best known ''Betta'' species is ''B. splendens,'' commonly known as the Siamese fighting fi ...

'' Bleeker, 1850 *** '' Parosphromenus'' Bleeker, 1877 *** '' Macropodus'' Lacepède, 1801 *** ''

Malpulutta The ornate paradisefish (''Malpulutta kretseri'') or spotted gourami, is a species of gourami Endemism, endemic to Sri Lanka. It is the only recognized species in its genus. It inhabits shallow, slow-flowing streams in forested areas shaded with ...

Deraniyagala Deraniyagala is a town in the Kegalle district in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Deraniyaga city area consists major government administrative offices, textile industries and transportation hub and the district hospital which has seve ...

, 1937 *** '' Pseudosphromenus'' Bleeker, 1879 *** ''

Trichopsis ''Trichopsis'' is a genus of gouramies native to Southeast Asia. Species There are currently three recognized species in this genus: * '' Trichopsis pumila'' ( J. P. Arnold, 1936) (Pygmy gourami) * '' Trichopsis schalleri'' Ladiges, 1962 (Three ...

'' Canestrini, 1860 ** Subafmily Trichogastrinae Bleeker, 1879 *** ''

Trichogaster ''Trichogaster'' is a genus of gouramis native to South Asia from Pakistan to Myanmar. It is the only genus in the monotypic subfamily Trichogastrinae as set out in the 5th Edition of ''Fishes of the World'', although that book states that there ...

Bloch Bloch is a surname of German origin. Notable people with this surname include: A–F * (1859-1914), French rabbi *Adele Bloch-Bauer (1881-1925), Austrian entrepreneur *Albert Bloch (1882–1961), American painter * (born 1972), German motor journal ...

& Schneider, 1801

As food

Giant gourami The giant gourami (''Osphronemus goramy'') is a species of large gourami native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia. It has also been introduced elsewhere. The species is commercially important as a food fish and is also farmed. It can be fou ...

s, ''Osphronemus goramy'', or Kaloi in Malay language, are eaten in some parts of the world. In Maritime Southeast Asian countries, they are often deep-fried and served in sweet-sour sauce, chili sauce, and other spices. The

paradise fish The paradise fish, paradise-fish, paradisefish, or paradise gourami (''Macropodus opercularis'') is a species of gourami found in most types of fresh water in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to northern Vietnam. This species can ...

, ''Macropodus opercularis'', and other members of that

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

are the target of a cannery industry in China, the products of which are available in Asian supermarkets around the world. Gouramis are particularly found in

Sundanese cuisine Sundanese cuisine is the cuisine of the Sundanese people of Western Java, and Banten, Indonesia. It is one of the most popular foods in Indonesia. Sundanese food is characterised by its freshness; the famous lalab eaten with sambal and also k ...

. In Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, gouramis are readily fished at streams, brooks, canal, rivers and many more large water area systems.

In the aquarium

Numerous gourami species, such as the

dwarf gourami The dwarf gourami (''Trichogaster lalius'') is a species of gourami native to South Asia. Distribution and habitat The dwarf gourami is native to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. However, it has also been widely distributed outside of its native ...

pearl gourami The pearl gourami (''Trichopodus leerii'') is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia. Description It reaches about TL. Its body is a brownish-silver colour, covered in a pearl-like pattern with a distinct black line running from the f ...

, are popular aquarium fish widely kept throughout the world. They are sought after due to their bright colours and relative intelligence, being able to recognise their owners and “greeting” them, having a desire to explore the plants and rocks placed across their aquarium, and displaying extensive paternal care with the males protecting the eggs until they hatch, and building a foam raft to keep them afloat. As labyrinth fish, they will often swim near the top of the tank in order to breathe air. As with other tropical freshwater fish, an

aquarium heater An aquarium heater is a device used in the fishkeeping hobby to warm the temperature of water in aquariums. Most tropical Freshwater aquarium, freshwater and marine aquariums are maintained at temperatures that range from 22 to 30 °C (71-86&n ...

is often used. Gouramis will eat either prepared or live

foods Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ing ...

. Some species can grow quite large and are unsuitable for the general hobbyist. Big Gouramis may become territorial with fish that are colourful and a considerable size to them, however that generally depends on the individual’s temperament as some gourami will be more tolerant of tankmates than others. Gouramis may nip at other fish, and males should never be kept together as they will become aggressive.

Compatibility

Generally regarded as peaceful, gouramis are still capable of harassing or killing smaller or long-finned fish. Depending on the species, adult and juvenile males have been known to spar with one another. Aggression can also occur as a result of overcrowding. Gouramis have been housed with many species, such as

danio ''Danio'' is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae found in South and Southeast Asia, commonly kept in aquaria. They are generally characterised by a pattern of horizontal stripes, rows of spots or vertical bars. Some species ...

s, mollies, silver dollars,

Neon tetra The neon tetra (''Paracheirodon innesi'') is a Freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to blackwater and clearwater streams in the Amazon basin of South Am ...

s, and plecostomus catfish. Compatibility depends on the species of gourami and the fish it is housed with. Some species (e.g., '' Macropodus'' or ''

'') are highly aggressive or predatory and may harass or kill smaller or less aggressive fish; whereas, others ('' Parosphromenus'' and '' Sphaerichthys'', for instance) are very shy or have specific water requirements and thus will be outcompeted by typical community fish.

Gallery

Image:Male_female_dwarf_gourami.jpg, Female and male

s (''Trichogaster lalius'') showing

sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...

Image:Makropode_Quang_Binh-Makropode_060114_1.jpg, '' Macropodus erythropterus'' Image:Makropode_Makropodus_opercularis_060114_1.jpg,

Paradise fish The paradise fish, paradise-fish, paradisefish, or paradise gourami (''Macropodus opercularis'') is a species of gourami found in most types of fresh water in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to northern Vietnam. This species can ...

(''Macropodus opercularis'') Image:giant.gourami.arp.jpg,

(''Osphronemus goramy'') Image:Trichogaster trichopterus 7.jpg,

Three spot gourami The three spot gourami (''Trichopodus trichopterus''), also known as the opaline gourami, blue gourami, and gold gourami, is a species of fish native to southeastern Asia, but also introduced elsewhere. This gourami gets its name from the two sp ...

(''Trichopodus trichopterus'') Image:Gold_gourami.jpg ,

Gold gourami The three spot gourami (''Trichopodus trichopterus''), also known as the opaline gourami, blue gourami, and gold gourami, is a species of fish native to southeastern Asia, but also introduced elsewhere. This gourami gets its name from the two sp ...

color morph In biology, polymorphism is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative ''phenotypes'', in the population of a species. To be classified as such, morphs must occupy the same habitat at the s ...

of ''Trichopodus trichopterus''

References