Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

4.2.19 Trichogaster leeri

Family: Anabantidae

Genus: Trichogaster

English name: Pearl Gourami, Mosaic Gourami

Origin: Malaya, Thailand, Borneo

Size: Maximum 10 cm

Habitat: Found in small streams

Shape, coloring and markings:

The body is elongated and laterally strongly compressed. The snout is pointed: the mouth small. The rather narrow dorsal fin has long rays which give the leading edge a frilly appearance, and is set back on the body. The ventral fins are very long and thread-like. The anal fin has a very long base, and very extended rays at the back. The basic coloration is an olive brown; the flanks are paler, pearl grey with a greenish-blue overtone. The throat, belly, ventral fins and part of the anal fin are red. A narrow black zig - zag longitudinal stripe runs from the mouth across the eye to the root of the tail, where it ends in a black spot. The entire body except for the head, throat and belly is covered with tiny mother-of-pearl dots and flecks. The dorsal fin is a yellowish-brown.

Females have no red on the throat and belly and the fins are more rounded than in the males.

Males are as described above. The red on the throat and belly is less intense outside the mating season.