Latin name

Anabas testudineus

Other name

Anabas testudineus

Identification

The body is slightly elongated, with straight back and sides, the head is rather large. It can stay out of the water for a long time (up to several days) thanks to a special supra-gill organ (labyrinth) used for breathing atmospheric air. 

Features of fish fins

It is a species that can move around on land by crawling with its pectoral fins. 

Fish colouring

Body color brownish green, belly yellowish. 

Distribution

Lives in South and Southeast Asia (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines). 

Habitat

Freshwater fish.

Size

The maximum body length is 25 cm. 

Behavior

It is believed that the fish can take over new territories by sneaking aboard fishing boats.

Food and feeding habits

They're predators that eat mostly fish.

Reproduction

This species is characterized by batch spawning. Mating relationships are polygamous or promiscuous. No evidence of sexual dimorphism has been found.  The eggs have positive buoyancy and are of the pelagic type, which is rare in freshwater fishes. 

Fishing

Largemouth bass have commercial value in the fishery.

Relationship with a person

It is an important food fish in some regions of South and Southeast Asia, where its ability to survive out of water for long periods if kept moist enhances its marketability.

Interesting facts

It's hard to imagine that there are fish that walk on land. But there are. When the dry season arrives and the shallow waters dry up, slippery perch either wait for a more favorable time by digging in the mud or go on the move. Early in the morning or at night, they crawl along the land for hundreds of meters, resting on their toothed gill covers and spiny fins. In search of a suitable body of water, they wade through deep ditches and may even climb a tree.