Anabantoids – Labyrinth fish – Taxonomy

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Anabantoids belong to suborder Anabantoidei of order Perciformes. They are also known as labyrinth fish. Anabantoids are ray-finned, live in freshwater and possess a characteristic labyrinth organ.

This lung-like organ enables them to breathe air directly. Some of the them are important as food. Many popular aquarium fish like dwarf gouramis, Siamese fighters and paradise fish come under Anabantoidei.

Dwarf Gourami belong to Anabantoids
Picture of Dwarf Gourami (belong to Anabantoids aka labyrinth fish)

The labyrinth organ in Anabantoidei helps in respiration directly from the air. The breathing organ is formed by the vascularization and expansion of the epibranchial bone of the first gill arch. Because this organ, they can survive for a short duration out of water till the organs lose moisture and become non-functional.

Scientific classification of suborder Anabantoidei
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Anabantoidei
Families:
Anabantidae (climbing gourami)
Helostomatidae (kissing gourami)
Osphronemidae (gourami, Siamese fighters)
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colisa_lalia.jpg (public domain)