anabantoid

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English

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Etymology

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From the suborder name Anabantoidei.

Noun

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anabantoid (plural anabantoids)

  1. A fish of the suborder Anabantoidei, a labyrinth fish.
    • 1997, Jeffrey B. Graham, Air-Breathing Fishes: Evolution, Diversity, and Adaptation[1], page 54:
      The anabantoids are called ”labyrinth fishes” because every species in the entire suborder possesses paired suprabranchial chambers that function for air breathing (Das, 1927; Bader, 1937; Peters, 1978) [] Early discussions of the form and possible function of the anabantoid labyrinth organ are contained in Peters (1846, 1853), Zograff (1886, 1888), and Henninger (1907).
    • 2004, Robert J. Goldstein, The Betta Handbook[2], page 1:
      The blue, pearl, kissing, and dwarf gouramies are well-known anabantoids. Less familiar anabantoids are the climbing perches and bushfish. [] Anabantoids are commonly known as labyrinth fishes, referring to a specialized bone above the gill chamber. This structure starts out small in baby anabantoids, where it is called the epibranchial bone.
    • 2008, Tim M. Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution[3], page 480:
      Anabantoid fishes have paired suprabranchial organs that function as accessory breathing structures. [] Anabantoids must gulp air at the surface since gill respiration alone is inadequate to prevent suffocation.