climbing perch

American  

noun

1. a brown labyrinth fish, Anabas testudineus, of southeastern Asia and the Malay Archipelago, having a specialized breathing apparatus that enables it to leave the water and move about on land.

---

Etymology

Origin of climbing perch

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

climbing perch

“Only with ongoing education and surveillance are we going to prevent climbing perch from arriving in northern Australia,” he said.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 2, 2015

Waltham said the climbing perch was just one of several invasive wetland-dwelling species in PNG – including walking catfish, snakehead, pacu, tilapia and gourami – that posed a possible threat to Australian habitats.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 2, 2015

Waltham said he observed climbing perch living in very salty waterholes, equivalent to ocean water, on a trip to the two islands in December.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 2, 2015

Specialist Sirs: Like the African lung fish, the climbing perch is a specialist.

From Time Magazine Archive

Doubtless the reader has heard of the "climbing perch," a tropical fish which is partially amphibious, and which abounds in Ceylon.

From The Pearl of India by Ballou, Maturin Murray