Lionhead (goldfish)
 | |
| Country of origin | China |
|---|---|
| Type | Fantailed |
| Classification | |
| BAS | [1] |
The lionhead is a hooded variety of fancy goldfish. This fish is the precursor to the ranchu.[1]
Description
The tremendous hood or headgrowth and fat cheeks of lionheads give them a facial appearance similar to canine
caudal peduncle is ideally broad, allowing the tail to open when the fish swims. The back of the proper lionhead is quite broad to support the placement of the raspberry-like hood.[3] Hood development may vary but is more pronounced in males. The hood normally takes a year to develop in young fry. Mature male lionheads periodically shed patches of their headgrowths.[4]
Lionheads can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length (including finnage) and may have metallic,
matte scales.[4]
They are available in orange, red, white, red-and-white, blue, black, black-and-white, black-and-red, natural, and chocolate colorations.
Lionheads can also be crossbred with Ranchus to create Lionchu offspring.
Origins
Lionheads were bred in China to depict the image of the mythical Chinese lion-dog (the shishi, in Japanese legend).[2] They were introduced to Japan from China during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Japanese produced lionheads with more rounded back profiles, modified tails and diminished size of the headgrowth.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "GFSA - Ask the Judges", an article about the Lionchu by Larry Christensen, Peter Ponzio and Scott Taylor, from the Goldfish Pages Website (Goldfish Society of America), date retrieved: 27 May 2007
- ^ ISBN 0-8348-0448-4
- ^ a b c d "What is a Lionchu?" by Peter Ponzio, an article from the Goldfish Pages Website (Goldfish Society of America), date retrieved: 26 May 2007
- ^ ISBN 1-902389-64-6