[2] Its body is a brownish-silver colour, covered in a pearl-like pattern with a distinct black line running from the fish's head, and gradually thinning towards the caudal fin.

Its male specimens, typical of many gouramis, are generally larger and more colourful than their female counterparts.

They exhibit bright orange colouring around the throat region, which at breeding time becomes much brighter and is used to court the female.

[3] The pearl gourami is native to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia (where it is found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo).

The type was collected at Palembang in Sumatra,[4] by Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. van Leer, who was a medical colleague of Bleeker's and whom Bleeker honoured in the fish's specific name.