Perch-like fishes

Order Perciformes

This is the largest order of fishes. It contains seahorses, puffers, flatfishes, cichlids, gobies, barracuda, fighting fishes, snakeheads, etc.

Suborder Percoidei

Suborder Labroidei

Suborder Trachinoidei

Sand-perches (Family Pinguipedidae)
Yellow barred Sand-perch Parapercis xanthozona

Suborder Blennioidei

Blennies (Family Blennidae)
Whitebar Oyster-blenny Omobranchus ferox
Striped Fang Blenny Meiacanthus grammistes
Variable Fang Blenny Petroscirtes variabilis

Suborder Callionymoidei

Dragonets (Family Callionymidae)
Schaap's Dragonet Callionymus schaapi

Suborder Gobioidei

Suborder Acanthuroidei

These fish have a flat disc-shaped body. The most commonly encountered species in this suborder is the Spotted Scat. Batfish are distinguished by the hump on the forehead that is in-line with the eyes. Rabbitfish have spines on their fins, but people still like to eat them. The Chinese name translates literally to "white-bellied fish".

Scats (Family Scatophagidae)
Spotted Scat Scatophagus argus

Batfishes and Spadefishes (Family Ephippidae)
Round-faced Batfish Platax teira

Rabbitfishes (Family Siganidae)
White-spotted Rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus
Blue-spotted Rabbitfish Siganus corallinus
Mottled Rabbitfish Siganus fuscescens
Orange-spotted Rabbitfish Siganus guttatus
Gold-spotted Rabbitfish Siganus punctatus
Brown-spotted Rabbitfish Siganus stellatus
Vermiculated Rabbitfish Siganus vermiculatus
Double-barred Rabbitfish Siganus virgatus

Spotted Scat at Sungei Buloh ©Tan KH

Suborder Scombroidei

Barracudas (Family Sphyraenidae)
Pickhandle Barracuda Sphyraena jello

Mackerels and Tunas (Family Scombridae)
Indian Mackerel, Kembong Rastrelliger kanagurta

Snake Mackerels (Family Trichiuridae)
Largehead Hairtail Trichiurus lepturus

Suborder Anabantoidei

Climbing Perches (Family Anabantidae)
Asian Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus

Bettas, Gouramies and allies (Family Osphronemidae)
Crescent Fighting Fish Betta imbellis
Forest Fighting Fish Betta pugnax
Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens - Introduced
Moonlight Gouramy Trichogaster microlepis - Introduced
Snakeskin Gouramy Trichogaster pectoralis - Introduced
Three-spot Gouramy Trichogaster trichopterus
Croaking Gouramy Trichopsis vittata
Giant Gouramy Osphronemus gouramy - Introduced
Giant Pikehead Luciocephalus pulcher

Two-spot Gouramy at Sungei Buloh ©Tan KH

Suborder Channoidei