Taxonomy
Scientific Nomenclature
1) Labrus badis (Hamilton, 1822).
2) Cychla fasciata (Swainson, 1839).
3) Badis buchanani (Bleeker, 1853).
4) Labrus fasciata (Swainson, 1839).
English, Bengali and Indian Nomenclature
The English names for Badis badis are, either Badis or Dwarf Chameleon fish. In Bengali this is called, the Napit (নাপিত), Koi bandi (কই বান্দি), Kala koi (কালা কই), Napit koi (নাপিত কই) and the Bot koi (বোট কই). Since this fish is also found in India, several locals have given it different names, depending on the areas it is found in. For example, the Badis badis found in the Andhra Pradesh region, is named either Kasundara or Kundala, while in the Assam region, it is called Randolnee or Nabat (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991).
Geographical Distribution
The Badis badis is widely distributed in several countries and is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, since these can be commonly found. The countries in which this species is found are:
Morphology of Badis badis
The Dwarf chameleon fish has a compressed body along with a tiny oblique mouth. It also has slender dorsal spines, a rounded caudal fin and short anal spines. Its scales are moderately ctenoid, with the lateral line slightly interrupted at the twentieth scale (Rahman, 1989 and 2005) or absent (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991). This fish may have a variety of colours. The most common colours are green and black stripes, however older fish may have black and red bands. The fin colour is normally dark-blue, yellowish green or blue. Badis badis may also have a number of bluish-black sports on the operculum and near the base of caudal fin (Rahman, 1989 and 2005).
Ecology and Habitat of Badis badis
The habitat the Badis badis, generally thrives in, is one which has a shallow depth of at least 1m and a slow-current, freshwater water body that may flow through rice fields. They favour turbid water with a muddy substrate, with some aquatic vegetation (Kullander and Britz, 2002). The Dwarf Chameleon fish can be found in ponds, rivers, ditches and swamps. It survives on a diet of crustacea, worms and insects and lives in water with a temperature of around 23 to 26 Degrees Celcius, with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 8.0 (Chaudry, 2010).
Reproduction of Badis badis
When the male is in proper breeding condition, it becomes more combative with other male rivals and they start displaying courtship behavior, with females passing through their territories. During courtship, these fish change colours, hence the name Dwarf Chameleon fish. They also display slight signs of dominance towards the females by dragging the latter to their territories, which are generally crevices or sheltered areas (Badis badis is a cave-spawner in aquaria). When spawning occurs, 30 to 100 fertile eggs are laid. Post-spawning, the male ejects the female from the nest and the former takes full responsibility of the eggs. The male makes it, its priority to protect the eggs and fry from any intruders. After the fry hatch, they do not become free-swimming, till they are eight days old and may not leave the cave for another 7 days. If the fry do not leave the male’s territory, the male may feed on the fry (Seriously Fish, 2018).
Threats faced by Badis badis
This fish is not captured in fisheries for human consumption, however it is caught to study its behaviour and for displaying it in ornamental aquaria (Chaudry, 2010). According to the study, “A Review on Status, Potentials, Threats and Challenges of the Fish Biodiversity of West Bengal” carried out by Mahapatra, Sarkar and Lakra (2014), out of the 73 fish which are exported, one of the 30 the that are cathegorised under the “Classified Aquarium Fish Category”, is the Badis badis. Since these species are highly popular with aquarists, it is essential, that they are given the appropriate care they require and to mimic their environment, in order to conserve them. It would also be ideal if these fish are bred and the fry are released for stock enhancement.
References
Chaudhry, S. (2010) Badis badis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T168335A6478454. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T168335A6478454.en., (Accessed on 24/11/2018).
Galib S. (2011) Badis, Badis badis (Hamilton, 1822) [online], Available at: http://en.bdfish.org/2011/08/badis-badis-badis/?fbclid=IwAR0Zw46QGEhLy27tB7Ooo05h47-1_CFLCU9uMLKXKAu9F_Teya5WjZmBsW0, (Accessed on: 22/11/18).
Kullander, S. O. and R. Britz, 2002 - Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 13(4): 295-372 Revision of the family Badidae (Teleostei: Perciformes), with description of a new genus and ten new species.
Rahman, A.K.A. (1989) Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh, 1st edition, Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, pp. 321-322.
Rahman, A.K.A (2005) Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh, 2nd edition, Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, pp. 347-348.
Mahapatra, B.K., Sarkar, U.K. and Lakra, W.S. (2014) A Review on Status, Potentials, Threats and Challenges of the Fish Biodiversity of West Bengal [online], Available at: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/a-review-on-status-potentials-threats-and-challenges-of-the-fish-biodiversity-of-west-bengal-2376-0214.1000140.php?aid=36207, (Accessed on: 24/11/18).
Seriously Fish (2018) Badis badis [online] Available at: https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/badis-badis/#habitat, (Accessed on: 24/11/18).
Talwar, P.K. and Jhingran, A.G. (1991) Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries, Vol. 2, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi-Calcutta, pp. 882-883.
Image References:
Image 1: Aquasnack (2018) Pair of Badis badis (Chameleon Fish) [image], Available at:https://eswamp.co.uk/2018/08/07/pair-of-badis-badis-chameleonfish/, (Accessed on: 24/11/18).
Image 2: Piednor, M.P. and Piednor, C. (2012) Breeding the Blue Dwarf (Badis badis) [image], Available at:http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/breeding-the-blue-dwarf-badis-badis-full-article.htm, (Accessed on: 24/11/18)