Anabas testudineus
Anabas testudineus occurs throughout the area of the present survey, from Chiang Saen in the north to the Mekong delta. Fishermen throughout its distribution range agreed that the species does not undertake longitudinal migrations within the Mekong River. They also agreed that the species undertakes lateral migrations from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season, and returns to the permanent water bod-ies at the start of the dry season.
Most fishermen, particularly in Cambodia, reported that the
species is much more common in flood-plain lakes than in the
Mekong River. This information is supported by Rainboth (1996),
who stated that Anabas testudineus is "found in sluggish,
standing, or even stagnant water, often with dense vegetation".
Further upstream in the Lao PDR and Thailand, the species was
reported to return to the Mekong mainstream during receding
water levels, where the fish spent the dry season in pools associated
with submerged wood and shrubs. The fish are well adapted to
withstand the harsh conditions in flood-plain habitats and they
are even able to move over dry land in search of new habitats.
Eggs were observed in March (4 reports), April (10), May (17),
June (11), July (3), August (1), September (1) and October (1).
In addition, two direct spawning observations were reported,
one from Chiang Khong province, Thailand, from May
to July, and one from Dong Thap province, Viet Nam, from March
to May. The two observations were made in rainfed paddy and
irrigated ricefields, respectively.