Giant gourami
📖 Overview
Obligate air-breathing ; Inhabits swamps, lakes and rivers , among vegetation . Enters flooded forest . Found in medium to large rivers and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals . Omnivorous. Feeds on both plants and animals such as some aquatic weeds, fish, frogs, earthworms and sometimes dead animals . Can breathe moist air, so can be kept alive for long periods out of water, making it possible to distribute it in areas lacking a cold chain . Was reported from miocene deposits in Central Sumatra . Utilized fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried and baked .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 9 - 13; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. With 8-10 complete dark vertical bars in juvenile color phase; adults without vertical bars or sexual dichromatism, both sexes drab; transverse scale rows usually 6.1.12; dorsal fin spines usually 12-13 (rarely 11 or 14); soft-rayed portion of anal fin greatly enlarged, its distal margin parallel to distal margin of caudal fin; caudal fin rounded or obtusely rounded, not truncate or emarginate . Pelvic fins with first soft ray prolonged into a thread-like tentacle reaching posteriorly to or beyond hind margin of caudal fin.: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Giant gourami is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Giant gourami is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Adults make nests made of plant fibers instead of bubble nests as some publications have claimed . This error comes from a misidentification of a species according to Bhimachar et al. (1944).
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25; depth range 10 - ? m . Tropical; 20°C - 30°C ; 6°N - 9°S
🌿 Ecology
both plants and animals such as some aquatic weeds, fish, frogs, earthworms and sometimes dead anima
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Giant gourami is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 111 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Giant gourami has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Giant Gourami · Giant Gouramy |
| 🌍CES | gurama velká |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Kæmpegurami |
| 🇩🇪German | Speisegurami |
| 🇫🇷French | Gourami · Gourami géant, Gourami |
| 🌍IND | Ikan Gurami · Kalui |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Goerami |
| 🌍NOB | Kjempegurami |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Gurami olbrzymi |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Gourami-gigante |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Настоящий гурами |
| 🌍THA | ปลาแรด · Pla Raed |
| 🌍UKR | Гурамі велетенський |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osphromenus gourami | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Osphromenus notatus | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
| Osphromenus olfax | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
| Osphromenus satyrus | Shaw | 1803 | Synonym |
| Osphronemus gouramy | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Trichopode mentonnier | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Trichopodus mentum | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Trichopus goramy | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Trichopus satyrus | Shaw | 1803 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 18 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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