Parambassis | |
---|---|
Parambassis ranga | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Clade: | Percomorpha |
(unranked): | Ovalentaria |
Family: | Ambassidae |
Genus: | Parambassis Bleeker, 1874 |
Type species | |
Ambassis apogonoides, Bleeker, 1851 |
Parambassis is a genus of freshwater fish in the Asiatic glassfish family Ambassidae of order Perciformes.[1] The type species is the Iridescent glassy perchlet (Ambassis apogonoides). These fishes originate mostly from Southeast Asia, but the species range across the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, from Pakistan, China and India south through Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. Although primiarly found in fresh water, a few species can also be seen in brackish water. The Parambassis species range in maximum size from 4–24 cm (1.5–9.5 in), but they are similar in appearance, with a lozenge-shaped form, typical perciform fins, and semitransparent or transparent body.[1] Several of the species are common food fish in local markets, and some (most notably the Indian glassy perchlet) are kept as aquarium fish.