Page 59 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH 59

walk.There are fish that can fly. But perhaps the most the air.The size of the organ varies depending on the
remarkable fish are those that breathe air. environment in which each species lives. Sensibly, those
Some fish breathe air using modified swim bladders. that live in low-oxygen waters have larger and more
Others, like the lungfish, have developed rudimentary complex labyrinth organs than species that make their
lungs. Fighting fish still have gills and use them to extract homes in oxygen-rich waters. Regardless of the
oxygen from the water, just like other fish.What sets this size of the organ, though, studies have shown that these
group apart from their relatives is the evocatively named labyrinth fish (belonging to the suborder Anabantoidei)
labyrinth organ.This organ is formed from part of the rely on it to such an extent they they’d suffocate if it
gill arch and enables the fish to take oxygen directly from was removed.

Comparisons

Fighting fish are popular pets and fish fanciers have spent decades
selectively breeding them to emphasize ‘desired’ traits and eliminate less
desirable ones.The veiltail fighting fish is one of the most popular,
aquarium-bred forms.These fish are bigger than wild fighting fish and
have massively enlarged fins.They also tend to be just one colour,
rather than multi-hued like their Siamese cousins.

Veiltail fighting fish

The male fertilizes the eggs, then corrals them into the waiting Once the young fry hatch, it takes only a few more days
nest. For the next two days, he’ll patiently stand guard. before they’re strong enough to set off on their own.

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.