About Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831)
This species, Trichopsis vittata, commonly known as the croaking gourami, has an average body length of around 5 centimeters (2.0 inches), while some individual fish can reach lengths of 6 to 7 centimeters (2.4 to 2.8 inches). Its coloration varies widely, spanning from pale brown and green to dark purple, and individuals may have black or red spots on their fins. On the flanks, there are 2 to 4 brown or black stripes, or rows of spots. The edges of the median fins are colored a thin, iridescent blue, and the iris is bright blue or purple. Females are generally paler than males, have a slightly rounded dorsal fin, while male dorsal fins are pointed, and females also have a shorter anal fin than males. The croaking gourami is native to still freshwater habitats including ponds, canals, and paddy fields across Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malaya, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. A breeding population of the species has been documented in a series of drainage ditches in Florida; this population is almost certainly an introduced one that arrived via the aquarium trade.
