Dermogenys

Dermogenys is a genus of viviparous halfbeaks. They are widely distributed in fresh and brackish water in South and Southeast Asia, ranging from India to the Philippines and Greater Sundas. They are all viviparous, producing small clutches of up to 30 fry that closely resemble the adults, except they are much smaller, around 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) in length. Adults are typically around 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in) in length, with females being slightly larger than males. Males tend to be more brightly coloured and are well known for being aggressive towards one another. The wrestling halfbeak, D. pusilla, is widely used in Asia as fighting animals upon which wagers are placed (see Siamese fighting fish). Both sexes have lower jaws (mandibles) that are much longer than the upper ones, and from this comes the "halfbeak" name.

Dermogenys
Dermogenys sumatrana, pregnant female about 5 cm (2 in) long
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Beloniformes
Family:	Zenarchopteridae
Genus:	Dermogenys Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1823
Type species
Dermogenys pusillus Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1823

Dermogenys feed extensively on small insects, either in the form of aquatic larvae or as flying insects that have fallen onto the surface of the water. They are important predators on insects such as mosquitoes, so play a role in controlling malaria.

Reproduction

A three-week-old Dermogenys fry.

Dermogenys are live-bearing fish that practise internal fertilisation. The male is equipped with a gonopodium-like anal fin known as an andropodium that delivers sperm into the female. The gestation period is about one month. The exact mode of reproduction ranges from ovoviviparity through to viviparity (see section on reproduction in the Zenarchopteridae article). About ten embryos are developed at any one time, but at birth, these are fairly large (around 1 cm or 0.4 in) compared with other fish of this size. Dermogenys adults are around 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) in length, depending on the species.

Species

There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus:

• Dermogenys bispina A. D. Meisner & Collette, 1998
• Dermogenys brachynotopterus (Bleeker, 1853)
• Dermogenys bruneiensis A. D. Meisner, 2001
• Dermogenys burmanica Mukerji, 1935
• Dermogenys collettei A. D. Meisner, 2001
• Dermogenys orientalis (M. C. W. Weber, 1894)
• Dermogenys palawanensis A. D. Meisner, 2001
• Dermogenys pusilla Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1823 (Wrestling halfbeak)
• Dermogenys robertsi A. D. Meisner, 2001
• Dermogenys siamensis Fowler, 1934
• Dermogenys sumatrana (Bleeker, 1854)
• Dermogenys vogti Brembach, 1982

See also

• Halfbeak
• Live-bearing aquarium fish

References

• FishBase entry for Dermogenys
• Report on keeping and breeding halfbeaks

Further reading

• Scott, Peter (1997): Livebearing Fishes, Tetra Press, ISBN 1-56465-193-2
• Forward Jr, R. B., & Waterman, T. H. (1973). Evidence forE-vector and light intensity pattern discrimination by the teleost Dermogenys. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 87(2), 189-202 (extract).