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Luciocephalus pulcher (Gray, 1830)
| Family Name: | Osphronemidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Fish) |
| Common Name: | Pikehead, Malayan Pikehead |
Name
Description
| Description | Body elongated and cylindrical with a pointed snout, a deeply notched anal fin, and a broad brown stripe on its sides. This stripe is not very distinct when the fish is viewed from above, and it has blackish margins which are sometmies broken into spots. Topside brown, underside white with a thin black stripe along lower side of body. The mouth is telescopic and can be extended outwards to catch fish. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | A surface-dwelling fish inhabiting shaded slow-flowing forest streams with acidic water. This ambush predator feeds largely on small fish and shrimps and is a mouth-brooder. |
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| Habitats | Forest, Freshwater |
| Distribution | In Singapore, restricted to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. It is also found in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. |
| Nature Reserves | Central Catchment Nature Reserve |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Habitat degradation and illegal collection. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | The species is sometimes sold as an ornamental fish. |
| Conservation Notes | Continued protection of its natural habitat in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve from human impacts, and strict policing against illegal collectors. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Rare |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Critically Endangered (CR) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2008. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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