Family OSTEOGLOSSIDAE

Osteoglossidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

The Osteoglossidae comprise 10 species belonging to four genera (Pouyaud et al. 2003). Some workers, however, place Heterotis and Arapima in a separate family, the Arapimidae. Recently, Nelson (2006) reported eight species in five genera for the family and assigned Pantodon, previously in its own family, to Osteoglossidae. In Australia, one genus and two species are present in the north.

Bony tongues are distributed in tropical fresh waters of Australia, South East Asia, Africa and South America. They inhabit freshwater tributaries and larger rivers. They feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects, small fishes and crustaceans. The female incubates her brood of 50–200 young in the oral cavity. The maximum size is about 80 cm.

Nelson (1994, 2006) summarised knowledge on relationships of and within the group. The Australian species are discussed and illustrated by Allen & Boeseman (1982) and Allen et al. (2002).

General References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Boeseman, M. 1982. A collection of freshwater fishes from western New Guinea with descriptions of two new species (Gobiidae and Eleotridae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 10(2): 67-103 figs 1-7

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Pouyaud, L., Sudarto [no initial] & Teugels, G.G. 2003. The different colour varieties of the asian arowana Scleropages formosus (Osteoglossidae) are distinct species: morphologic and genetic evidences. Cybium 27(4): 287-305

Common Name References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp. [56] (Bony Tongues)

Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs. [70] (Bony-tongued Fishes)

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