The Introduction into Thailand of Foreign Species of Fishes1

Abstract

Thailand is acclaimed to be one of the richest areas for tropical aquatic life in the world. This is due to the favorable physical and biological conditions and the diversity of habitats that make the fish fauna of Thailand greatly and abundantly developed. For fresh - water fishes alone, Smith (1945) made known that there are 560 species. For the salt - water varieties, Rofen (1963) estimated that there would be over 2,000 kinds in the Gulf of Thailand. A great variety of these fishes are of economic importance and many of them are excellent aquarium fishes which are gaining worldwide popularity.