Luciocephalinae is a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

of the

gourami Gouramis, or gouramies , are a group of fresh water, freshwater Anabantiformes, anabantiform fish that comprise the family (biology), family Osphronemidae. The fish are native to Asia—from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and northeas ...

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Osphronemidae Jan van der Hoeven (9 February 1801 – 10 March 1868) was a Dutch zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both l ...

. The members of this subfamily differ from the other groups within the gourami family by having a reduced number of rays supporting the

branchiostegal membrane This glossary of ichthyology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in ichthyology, the study of fishes. A B C ...

, five rather than six, and in the possession of a median process of the

basioccipital The basilar part of the occipital bone (also basioccipital) extends forward and upward from the foramen magnum, and presents in front an area more or less quadrilateral in outline. In the young skull, this area is rough and uneven, and is joined ...

which reaches the first vertebra and which has an attachment to the Baudelot's ligament.

Genera

The fifth edition of ''

Fishes of the World ''Fishes of the World'' is a standard reference for the systematics of fishes. It was first written in 1976 by the American ichthyologist Joseph S. Nelson (1937–2011). Now in its fifth edition (2016), the work is a comprehensive overview of t ...

'' places five genera and thirteen species in the subfamily Luciocephalinae, other authorities place one or two other genera in the subfamily but ''Fishes of the World'' treats these under a separate subfamily, the

Trichogastrinae ''Trichogaster'' is a genus of gouramis native to South Asia from Pakistan to Myanmar. It is the only genus in the monotypic subfamily Trichogastrinae as set out in the 5th Edition of ''Fishes of the World'', although that book states that there ...

. The genera within the Luciocephalinae are: * ''

Luciocephalus ''Luciocephalus'' is a genus of gouramies native to Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of Ch ...

'' (Bleeker, 1851) * ''

Sphaerichthys ''Sphaerichthys'' is a genus of gouramis native to Southeast Asia known as chocolate gourami. These species live mostly in blackwater rivers/swamps with acidic water. They have dark-light brownish hues with the exception being the female of S. ...

'' ( Canestrini, 1860) * ''

Ctenops The frail gourami (''Ctenops nobilis'') or noble gourami is a mouth brooding species of gourami native to northeastern India and Bangladesh . This species grows to a length of . It is only seldom found in the aquarium trade, courtesy of its ex ...

'' (

McClelland McClelland is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alyssa McClelland, Australian actress * Anthony McClelland, biological father of Lebron James * Charles A. McClelland (1917–2006), American political systems analyst * Charles ...

, 1845) * ''

Parasphaerichthys ''Parasphaerichthys'' is a genus of gouramies known only from streams and freshwater pools in the Irrawaddy basin of Myanmar. They are the small gouramies that, depending on the exact species, reach up to in length. Species There are currently ...

'' (Prashad & Mukerji, 1929) * ''

Trichopodus ''Trichopodus'' (formerly included in '' Trichogaster'') is a genus of tropical freshwater labyrinth fish of the gourami family found in Southeast Asia. Gouramis of the genus ''Trichopodus'' are closely related to those of ''Trichogaster'' (form ...

'' ( Lacepède, 1801)

References

Osphronemidae Fish subfamilies {{Anabantiformes-stub