[quote=”bartian” post=2584](…) According to Anton Lamboj (an ichtyologist) paros do not possess a labyrinth organ, in contrast to all other Macropodusinae. He dissected quite some of them but did not find any labyrinth organ.(…)[/quote]
I appreciate of Anton very much but his opinion or “finding” in this case is nonsense. Paros do possess labyrinth organs which are completely developed. What Helene reports is a proof of this, and the labyrinths could be found by dissection of the body, too. Therefore, they could live for quite a long time in water with a very much reduced content of oxygen; they could not without a labyrinth. This organ seems to be be smaller as in other anabantoids (as are Paros), but it is existent and works if needed.
Maybe, the natural milieu of Paros would result in thousands of years in the complete disappearance of the labyrinth, but hitherto it has not. So far, it has only led to its non-use under normal conditions.
Greetings to Anton.