GORAMY

goramy, or gouramy (_osphromenus olfax_), reputed to be one of the best-flavoured freshwater fishes in the east indian archipelago. its original home is java, sumatra, borneo and several other east indian islands, but thence it has been transported to and acclimatized in penang, malacca, mauritius and even cayenne. being an almost omnivorous fish and tenacious of life, it seems to recommend itself particularly for acclimatization in other tropical countries; and specimens kept in captivity become as tame as carps. it attains the size of a large turbot. its shape is flat and short, the body covered with large scales; the dorsal and anal fins are provided with numerous spines, and the ventral fins produced into long filaments. like _anabas_, the climbing perch, it possesses a suprabranchial accessory respiratory organ. [illustration: goramy.]