Scientific Name
Trichogaster pectoralis

Common Name
Snakeskin gourami

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 9 - 12; Anal soft rays: 33 - 38. Dorsal fin with short spines and long soft rays. Caudal fin slightly emarginate. First soft ray of pelvic fins prolonged into a tentacle extending posteriorly to hind margin of caudal fin. Body with numerous dark oblique cross bands which are not always distinct; presence of irregular black stripe from eye to middle of caudal fin base (Ref. 43281).

Classification

Classified By

Regan, 1910

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Gouramies (Osphronemidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: Mekong basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam; also Chao Phraya basin (Ref. 43281). Introduced elsewhere and at least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction (Ref. 1739).

Range

20°N - 22°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

23 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

4 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 6.0 - 8.3; dH range: 2 - 3 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 4 - ? m (Ref. 9987)

Trophic Level

2.32 s.e. 0.22 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

25.0 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: highly commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (24 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=1,000-10,000 eggs (Ref. 6459))

Threat To Humans

Potential pest (Ref. 6095)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated