Elephant ear gourami
The elephant ear gourami is a large species of gourami native to the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and Vietnam.
Distribution and habitat
In the wild, the elephant ear gourami is found in the Mekong river basin of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It is only known for certain from the middle part of the basin, from Kampong Cham Province to Sainyabuli Province. The closely related giant gourami has been reported from the same section, but these records are likely misidentifications of elephant ear gouramis. In contrast, reports of elephant ear gouramis from the Mekong Delta are possibly misidentifications of giant gouramis. The only section of the Mekong basin where the giant gourami likely occurs naturally are in the southernmost part, like tributaries originating in the northern Cardamom Mountains.During the wet season, elephant ear gouramis are found in flooded forests and floodplains. During the dry season, they are found in permanent bodies of water, like the Mekong mainstream. Their seasonal movements are triggered by water levels.