Ornate paradisefish

The ornate paradisefish (Malpulutta kretseri) or spotted gourami, is a species of gourami endemic to Sri Lanka.^[1][2] It is the only recognized species in its genus.^[3]

Ornate paradisefish
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anabantiformes
Family:	Osphronemidae
Subfamily:	Macropodusinae
Genus:	Malpulutta Deraniyagala, 1937
Species:	M. kretseri
Binomial name
Malpulutta kretseri Deraniyagala, 1937
Red:present, Light red:possibly extinct

It inhabits shallow, slow-flowing streams in forested areas shaded with plentiful vegetation near the edges and a substrate covered by leaf litter. It is a carnivore, preying on plankton, fish fry, and the larvae of insects. They can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 in), though most are only around 2 cm (0.79 in). This species can also occasionally be found in the aquarium trade,^[2] where it is reportedly exceedingly shy. The specific name of this fish honours the Sri Lankan lawyer and judge Oswald Leslie De Kretser II.^[4]