anabantoid

English

Etymology

From the suborder name Anabantoidei.

Noun

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.