Order : Anabantiformes
Family : ANABANTIDAE
Species : Anabas testudineus

Maximum Length : 23 cm

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Anabas testudineus (Asian Climbing Perch) is an adaptable species of forest streams and open-country water bodies. It is commonly seen resting on the substrate of shallow ponds.

Climbing perch are able to survive for some time out of water in moist environments; at such times they gulp air which they retain in a labyrinth organ - this is a specialised structure in the head designed to absorb atmospheric oxygen. In temporarily waterlogged habitats, such as flooded grassland or swamp forest, they are thus able to migrate from one water body to another.

They 'walk' by opening the gill plates for support, and then pushing forward with the strong pectoral, pelvic and tail fins.

In the field, this species can be identified by the thickset body and rounded head, and by the small black markings which occur on the gill plates and at the base of the tail. The dorsal fin is long and spiny, and the tail fin is short.

It is omnivorous, feeding on plant matter as well as small invertebrates or fish. 

Anabas testudineus is widespread, ranging from India through much of Southeast Asia and East Asia.

Fig 1 : Resting on the substrate of a shallow, silty, open-country pond, Singapore.

Fig 2 : Specimen in an open-country stream in Singapore's western catchment.

Fig 3 ; Kranji Marshes, Singapore; this secondary freshwater wetland, formed by damming of a mangrove inlet in in the 1970's, has shallow pools at its margin in which Anabas testudineus occurs.


References :

Ho Jonathan K. I., Sorain J. Ramchunder, Andrew Memory, Meryl Theng, Li Tianjiao, Esther Clews, Cai Yixiong, Tan Heok Hui & Darren C. J. Yeo. (2016). A Guide to the Freshwater Fauna of Nee Soon Swamp Forest.  Singapore: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum & Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore. 139 pp.