Taxonomic root: Scleropages formosus
One widely accepted Asian arowana species in the molecular studies cited below; named red, green and golden forms are not conclusively isolated species.
- Regional red-family association: western Borneo / upper Kapuas; market group: Super Red, Chili Red, Blood Red.
- Regional golden associations: Malaysia / Perak and Indonesia / Sumatra; marketed groups: Crossback, Highback, Blue Base, Red Tail Golden. Golden Red (Riau) is a geographically described field population, not an independently DNA-proven new commercial strain.
- Widespread green-family designations: Asian Green and Yellow Tail Silver across multiple mainland and island Southeast Asian drainages.
Important: These are class memberships, not directed genetic crosses. No arrows from Chili Red to Blood Red, Crossback to RTG, or Green to Golden are demonstrated by this evidence.
Scientific comparison: chromosome panel
Toma et al. (2023) compared Super Red, Golden Crossback, Highback Golden, Asian Green and Yellow Tail Silver, with 22 aquarium-trade specimens. All five phenotypes had 2n = 50 chromosomes. The authors did not recover unambiguous distinct evolutionary units corresponding to those five trade color phenotypes.
Geographic phylogeography
Alshari et al. (2021) examined nine Malaysian populations and detected three major geographically separated lineages, connected to ancient river drainage histories. Green variants were not one exclusive genetic clade. This tree layer needs proven watershed/source sampling—not body color alone.
Candidate genes are not deterministic color recipes
Genome and transcriptome research (2016) found 260 skin/scale differentially expressed genes when comparing red, golden and green fish; fhl2a and fhl2b expression was markedly elevated in golden sampled fish. Correlation in expression is not a demonstrated single-gene causal mutation, not a guaranteed F1 phenotype, and not a commercial strain authentication test.
Required breeder-pedigree evidence
To add a verified edge: tagged sire and dam, breeder and farm, generation/cross date, verified offspring, experimental genotype or reproduced progeny counts, original source documentation and evidence confidence. Keep unsupported edges explicitly labeled unverified. Protect threatened wild sites.
Research bibliography
- Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes, Osteoglossidae
- Toma et al. 2023, Cytogenetics Meets Genomics (directly sampled five phenotypes)
- Alshari et al. 2021, Malaysian paleodrainages rather than color groups
- Bian et al. 2016, Golden/Red/Green genome and pigment gene expression
- 2016 Scientific Data chromosome-level golden arowana genome