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Region: Southeast Asia Class: Osteichthyes Order: Osteoglossiformes Family: Osteoglossidae Genus: Scleropages Scientific Name: Scleropages formosus
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Description:
Body; long, very strongly compressed, belly keeled, gape of mouth oblique and very large.
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Distribution:
Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and Malaysia
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Habitat:
Streams, canals and swamps, preferring weedy and slow-moving water.
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Food:
Young feed on insects while adults eat fishes.
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Reproduction and Development:
Mouth brooders. Eggs which are large and few in number, taken into female's pouch-like throat immediately after extrusion and incubated there. Grow to 90 cm. Weight up to 7.2 kg.
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Adaptations:
Helical organ on fourth gill-arch which serves for filter - feeding (traps fine particles in mucous; they are carried back to stomach). Important for food during periods of low water.
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Threats to Survival:
Over-fishing has caused them to be classified as endangered
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Status:
Endangered
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Zoo Diet:
Crickets, dew worms, beef heart and bait fish.
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Animal Fact Sheet
The New Tundra Trek