Family Osteoglossidae - Arowanas
Order : Osteoglossiformes Osteoglossidae
Class : Teleostei
No. in FishBase : Genera : 2 | Species : 6 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes
Environment : Fresh : Yes | Brackish : No | Marine : No
Division : Primary freshwater
Aquarium : some
First Fossil Record : lower   Tertiary     Eocene Ref. Berg, L.S. 1958
Remark : Arowanas are tropical freshwater fishes. Five species occurring in the Neotropical region (2), Southeast Asia (1), Australia and New Guinea (2). Osteoglossids are similar in appearance to arapaimatids and were, until recently, considered to be part of one family. Both families have elongate, slender bodies with large scales. Osteoglossids differ in a number of characters, the most obvious are the presence of barbels at the symphasis of the lower jaw, a highly compressed abdomen (versus nearly cylindrical), and a huge mouth with a markedly oblique gape (Ref. 50892). Pelvic fins well behind base of pectoral fins. Most with very large scales. Some with suprabranchial organ and capable of air-breathing. Vertebrae 60-100. Most are omnivores or carnivores inhabiting quiet waters. Arowanas are commonly exhibited in public aquaria and is a popular aquarium fish in Asia (Ref. 7463). Exhibit mouthbrooding. Eggs measure 10-18 mm. Adults posses only the left ovary, the right being absent (Ref. 94267).
Etymology :
Reproductive guild : bearers and guarders
Typical activity level : normal
Main Ref. : Ferraris, C.J. Jr. 2003
Coordinator :
Deep Fin Classification : Osteichthyes | Actinopterygii | Actinopteri | Neopterygii | Teleostei | Osteoglossocephalai | Osteoglossomorpha | | | | | | | | | | | Osteoglossiformes | | | Osteoglossidae

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Ref.
[ e.g. 9948 ]
Glossary
[ e.g. oophagy ]


Species/Synonymy list for the family Osteoglossidae as currently in FishBase

Important recommendation:

The list below must not be used as an authority reference synonymy list like those found in scientific published revisions, which must be the source to be used and cited eventually when they exist.

Rather, it reflects the current content of FishBase, and the progress with respect to synchronization with the Catalog of Fishes. However, we think it can be useful for users to assess the quality of information in FishBase, to start new work on the family, or to cross-check with other lists.

But we appreciate to be cited in publications when this list has been of any working value. In particular, for published scientific, we suggest then to cite it in the Material and Method section as a useful tool to conduct the research, but again, not as a taxonomic or nomenclatural authority reference.

Unless it is explicitly precised, the list is not complete, please search all original names published for the family in the Catalog of Fishes (genera, species), including those with uncertain or unknown status, that are not included in FishBase when they are not attached to a valid species.

This list uses some data from Catalog of Fishes (not shown but used to sort names).

The list ordered as follows:

Please send comments and corrections if you detect errors or missing names.

Show all | Show only accepted name | Show only accepted and original names
Scientifc name Status Senior/Junior synonym Combination
acceptedseniornew
synonymseniororiginal
! Osteoglossum bicirrhostum (Cuvier, 1829)
synonymseniornew
synonymjuniororiginal
! Osteoglossum vandelli Cuvier, 1829
synonymjuniororiginal
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum Spix & Agassiz, 1829
ambiguousotheroriginal
Osteoglossum arowana Jardine, 1841
synonymjuniororiginal
Osteoglossum minus Valenciennes, 1847
synonymjuniororiginal
Osteoglossum ferreirai Kanazawa, 1966
acceptedseniororiginal
! Osteoglossum ferrerai Kanazawa, 1966
synonymseniororiginal
Scleropages leichardti Günther, 1864
acceptedseniororiginal
! Scleropages leichardtii Günther, 1864
synonymseniororiginal
! Scleropages leichhardti Günther, 1864
synonymseniororiginal
Osteoglossum guntheri Castelnau, 1876
synonymjuniororiginal
Scleropages formosus (Müller & Schlegel, 1840)
acceptedseniornew
Osteoglossum formosum Müller & Schlegel, 1840
synonymseniororiginal
Scleropages macrocephalus Pouyaud, Sudarto & Teugels, 2003
ambiguousquestionableoriginal
Scleropages aureus Pouyaud, Sudarto & Teugels, 2003
ambiguousquestionableoriginal
Scleropages legendrei Pouyaud, Sudarto & Teugels, 2003
ambiguousquestionableoriginal
Scleropages jardinii (Saville-Kent, 1892)
acceptedseniornew
Osteoglossum jardinii Saville-Kent, 1892
synonymseniororiginal
! Scleropages jardini (Saville-Kent, 1892)
synonymseniornew
acceptedseniororiginal
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