The Ranchu 



MARUKO. SHISHIGASHIRA. KOREAN GOLDFISH 



Literally translated, the name ranchu means Holland worm. The significance is not apparent, 

 except in the fact that in early times any new or strange animal or plant or production was regarded 

 as of Dutch origin and named accordingly. Another and a later name in very general use is maruko, 

 meaning round fish. This variety is called also Chosen, or Korean, goldfish, in allusion to a possible 

 origin or a possible route from China to Japan. There is usually a peculiar growth or wart-like 

 protuberance on the head, and this gives rise to other names shishigashira and shishigashira 

 ranchu, lion-head and lion-head ranchu. 



The wide departure of the ranchu from the original form suggests that the parent stock must 

 have been a very early offshoot of the wakin stem, probably earlier than the ryukin and the demekin, 

 which are the other more primitive types now grown in Japan. 



The ranchu is easily recognized by its short, rounded body, broad head, short caudal fin, and 

 deficient dorsal fin. As the length, depth, and breadth of the body are about equal, and as the 

 back and belly are broad and rounded and the caudal peduncle very short, the form of the body 

 proper is almost globular and a median cross section would be a nearly perfect circle. The head is short 

 and as broad as deep, and the snout is broad, short, and rounded. The back is nearly straight or 

 only slightly elevated and shows no trace of a fin. The caudal is short and three-lobed, with the 

 lobes rounded and the two lateral ones having a tendency to spread horizontally. The pectoral and 

 ventral fins are small and present no peculiarities. The anal is short and double. A curious sickle- 

 shaped appendage sometimes appears on the dorsal edge of the caudal fin. 



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