Hong Kong Biodiversity Database

Hong Kong Biodiversity Database

General Information

Macropodus hongkongensis Hong Kong Paradise fish
Animal Group:	Freshwater Fish
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Osphronemidae
Description:	Hong Kong Paradise Fish has an elliptical and laterally compressed body with elongated dorsal and anal fins. The caudal fin of the fish is forked and both lobes are elongated in males. The first pair of gill-rakers of the fish extends to form a supplementary respiratory organ (a labyrinth organ). The body colour is generally solid black to greyish. During spawning season, males exhibit dark black body colour and their unpaired fins are lined with bluish edges.

Conservation Status

AFCD Assessment

Species of Conservation Concern

Fellowes et al. (2002)

Global Concern

Distribution

Distribution in Hong Kong Records from northern New Territories, Tai Po and Sai Kung. The fish is previously identified as M. concolor. The fish population from Hong Kong later considered as a new species. It is the only freshwater fish species in Hong Kong that is named after Hong Kong. Global Distribution Fujian and Guangdong.

Photo Gallery

References

More on Freshwater Fish in HK

Lam, K. S. (2002). Freshwater Fish in Hong Kong. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong.

Lee, V. L. F., Lam, S. K. S., Ng, F. K. Y., Chan, T. K. T. and Young, M. L. C. (2004). Field Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Hong Kong.Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong

Fellow, J. R. et al. (2002). Wild animals to watch: terrestrial and freshwater fauna of conservation concern in Hong Kong. In Hodgkiss, I.J. (ed.). Memoirs of the Hong Kong Natural History Society, No. 19, Hong Kong. pp.123-159.