FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 463 



TRICHOGASTER LEERII (Bleeker) 



Trichopus leerii Bleekek, 1852 (67), p. 577 (Palembang, Sumatra). 



Osphromenus leerii Bleekee, 1865 (356), p. 173 (Siam). 



Trichopodus leeri Webeb and de Beaufort, 1922, vol. 4, p. 367 (Siam). — Hoba, 



1923b, p. 182 (Bangkok). 

 Trichopodus leeri Fowler, 1939, p. 41 (Huey Yang). 



From Sumatra and Borneo, the range of this species extends to Ma- 

 laya and Thailand. It is not rare in the Bangkok region. 



A length of 10 to 12 cm. is attained. 



The body and vertical fins are pale green with a reddish brown net- 

 work; a dark stripe extends from the snout, through the eye, to the 

 base of the caudal fin, where it ends in a spot ; and in the male at egg- 

 laying time the breast becomes bright red. An excellent and attrac- 

 tive aquarium fish. 



The vernacular name is pla kadi nang {nang, female). 



TRICHOGASTER TRICHOPTERUS (Pallas) 

 FiGUBE 98 



Labrus trichopterus Pallas, 1770, pt. 8, p. 45 (no locality given). 



Trichopus trichopterus Bleeker, 1859-60 (239), p. 101 (Siam). — Sauvage, 1881, 



p. 160 (Siam) ; 18S3b, p. 151 (Menam Chao Phya ) .— Fowlee, 1935a, p. 137 



(Bangkok). 

 Osphromenus siamensis Guntheb, 1861, vol. 3, p. 385 (fresh waters of Siam) ; 



1864, p. 175 (Siam and Cambodia ) .—Bleekee, 1865 (347), p. 34 (Slam); 



1865 (356), p. 173 (Siam).— von Martens, 1876, p. 395 (Bangkok).— 



KlROLi, 1882, p. 172 (Siam). 

 Osphromenus trichopterus Bleekeb, 1865 (356), p. 173 (S'iam). — Pe^'ees, 1868, 



p. 260 (Siam). 

 Trichopus siamensis Sauvage, 1881, p. 166 (Bangkok) ; 1883b, p. 151 (Menam 



Chao Phya). 

 Trichopodus trichopterus Weber and de Beaufort, 1922, vol. 4, p. 366 (Siam). — 



HoRA, 1923b, p. 182 (Bangkok) ; 1924a, p. 483 (inner and outer lakes. Tale 



Sap). — Fowler, 3934a, p. 149 (Bangkok, Chiengmai, Metang River) ; 1934b, 



p. 350 (Bangkok, Krat) ; 1937, p. 222 (Bangkok, Mepoon, Pitsanulok, Ra- 



yong) ; 1939, p. 41 (Huey Yang). 

 Trichopodus maculatus Vipulya, 1923, p. 225 (Bangkok). 



This species, of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, Malay Penin- 

 sula, and French Indo-China, is the most abundant and most widely 

 distributed member of the genus in Thailand. It has been collected 

 in Peninsular, Central, Southeastern, and Northern districts, and 

 in the last-named region it is known from the basins of the Salwin, 

 Menam Chao Phya, and Mekong. 



A length of 12 cm. is attained, but full maturity is reached at about 

 8 cm. 



The fish is found in streams, canals, ditches, lakes, ponds, and 

 swamps, and is partial to a weedy environment, which affords pro- 

 tection from predatory fishes and birds and provides a suitable loca- 

 tion for its bubble-nest. 



