The air is held in a structure called the suprabranchial chamber, where oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream via the respiratory epithelium covering the labyrinth organ.

They are widely distributed and are found in countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China.

Climbing gouramies have distinct names in numerous South Asian languages.

In Tamil, they are பனையேறி கெண்டை (panaieri kendai); in Malayalam, chemballi; in Odia, they are କଉ ମାଛ (kau); in Assamese they are কাৱৈ মাছ (kawoi maas); in Bengali, they are কই মাছ (koi mach).

[citation needed] Their method of terrestrial locomotion uses the gill plates as supports, and the fish pushes itself using its fins and tail.