Luciocephalus pulcher
{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Luciocephalus pulcher (Gray, 1830).jpg
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Luciocephalus
| species = pulcher
| authority = (J. E. Gray, 1830)
| range_map = Luciocephalus pulcher map.jpg
| range_map_caption = Red:extant, light red: possibly extant
| synonyms = *Diplopterus pulcher J. E. Gray, 1830
}}
Luciocephalus pulcher, the pikehead, giant pikehead or crocodile pikehead, is a species of gourami native to the Malaya Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. It is a yellowish-brown fish with dark brown longitudinal bands and stripes, and can reach a length of {{convert|20|cm|in}} SL.
It can also be found in the aquarium trade,{{FishBase species|genus=Luciocephalus|species=pulcher|month=February|year=2014}} where it is notoriously difficult to keep; they require extremely soft, acidic water and seldom eat dead foods.{{cite web |title=Luciocephalus pulcher (Giant Pikehead) — Seriously Fish |url=https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/luciocephalus-pulcher/}}
Habitat
It can be found in a variety of habitats like flooded forests, streams, and peat swamps, especially in areas with plentiful vegetation.
Behavior
Compared to most gouramies, it is a highly specialized ambush predator that spends most of its time lying motionless near plants or other cover for potential prey to approach; when it does attack a potential meal (usually a smaller fish), it is able to extend its jaw to about one-third of its body length, allowing it to successfully prey upon fishes almost half of its own length.
Like several closely related genera (such as Sphaerichthys), it is a mouthbrooder (in this case a paternal mouthbrooder).
References
{{reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5246252}}
Category:Fish of Southeast Asia
Category:Fish described in 1830
Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray
{{anabantiformes-stub}}