Asian Bonytongue

Asian Bonytongue or Dragon Fish
(image here)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Osteoglossiformes Family: Osteoglossidae Genus: Scleropages Species: formosus
Binomial name
Scleropages formosus (Schlegel & Müller, 1844)

The Asian Bonytongue or Asian Arrowana (Scleropages formosus) is a species of freshwater fish from Southeast Asia commonly known as the Dragon Fish by fish enthusiasts (though this name is also used of many other unrelated species of fish). They are called dragon fish because of their resemblance to the mythical dragon.

The Asian Bonytongue is native to the rivers of Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. It is a mouthbrooder. These fish come in various colors--red, red-tailed golden, crossback(blue/gold), etc. Today these are raised in farms by fish farmers.

In the wild, the Asian Bonytongue is endangered. As food, it commands a moderate price, but it is much more highly valued as an aquarium fish: people who believe in luck and prosperity pay thousands of dollars for one of these prized fishes. International trade in these fish is banned under the CITES conventions.