Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Nandidae

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Family

Scientific name
  
Nandidae

Higher classification
  
Percoidea

Order
  
Perciformes

Nandidae httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Similar
  
Nandus, Badidae, Pristolepis, Nandus nandus, Perciformes

Nandidae, the Asian leaffishes, are small freshwater fishes mostly native to south Asia, though with two species confined to Africa.

These fish usually have small heads, coloration that appears to have evolved to resemble leaves, and very large protractile mouths. Those features, along with their peculiar movements (seemingly intended to resemble a leaf innocently moving through the water) help them to catch fairly large prey compared to their body size, including small fish, aquatic insects, and other invertebrates. They tend to stay in one place and wait for prey; they are "lie-in-wait" predators.

Their odd, leaf-like appearance and unusual behavior make them interesting to aquarium hobbyists.

References

Nandidae Wikipedia