Betta

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Betta
Betta albimarginata 060311 8.jpg
Betta albimarginata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Osphronemidae
Subfamily: Macropodusinae
Genus: Betta
Bleeker, 1850
Type species
Betta trifasciata
Bleeker, 1850
Synonyms
  • Anostomavan Hasselt, 1859
  • MicracanthusSauvage, 1879
  • ParophiocephalusPopta, 1905
  • OshimiaD. S. Jordan, 1919
  • PseudobettaRichter, 1981

Betta /ˈbɛtə/ is a large genus of small, active, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, in the gourami family (Osphronemidae). [1] The best known Betta species is B. splendens, commonly known as the Siamese fighting fish and often kept as an aquarium pet.

Contents

Characteristics

All Betta species are small fishes, but they vary considerably in size, ranging from under 2.5 cm (1 in) total length in B. chanoides to 14 cm (5.5 in) in the Akar betta (B. akarensis). [1]

Bettas are anabantoids, which means they can breathe atmospheric air using a unique organ called the labyrinth. This accounts for their ability to thrive in low-oxygen water conditions that would kill most other fish, such as rice paddies, slow-moving streams, drainage ditches, and large puddles. [2]

The bettas exhibit two kinds of spawning behaviour: some build bubble nests, such as B. splendens, while others are mouthbrooders, such as B. picta. The mouthbrooding species are sometimes called "pseudo bettas", and are sometimes speculated to have evolved from the nest-builders in an adaptation to their fast-moving stream habitats. [3]

A phylogenetic study published in 2004 concluded tentatively that bubble-nesting was the ancestral condition in Betta, and that mouthbrooding has evolved on more than one occasion in the history of the genus. However it was unable to establish a correlation with any of three habitat variables studied: whether a species was found in lowland or highland streams, whether it was found in peat swamp forests, and whether it was found in water with fast or slow currents. [4] Mouthbrooding species tend to exhibit less sexual dimorphism, perhaps because they do not need to defend a territory as the bubble-nesters do. [4]

Name

Siamese fighting fish (B. splendens) are frequently sold in the United States simply as "bettas". In fact, as of 2017, around 73 species are classified within the genus Betta. [1] A useful distinction is that while the generic name Betta is italicized and capitalized, when used as a common name it is usually neither italicized nor capitalized. [5] The common name of B. pugnax, for example, is thus Penang betta.

Betta splendens, the Siamese fighting fish, is often referred to simply as a "betta" in the U.S. Kampffisch betta splendenscele4.jpg
Betta splendens, the Siamese fighting fish, is often referred to simply as a "betta" in the U.S.

The name Betta (or betta) is pronounced /ˈbɛtə/ ; [5] the first part is the same as the English word bet. The name is often pronounced /ˈbeɪtə/ in American English, and may be spelled with one 't'. The name of the genus is derived from the Malay term ikan betah ("persistent fish"). [6]

The vernacular name "plakat", often applied to the short-finned ornamental strains, derived from pla kad which means "fighting fish", is the Thai name for all members of the B. splendens species complex (All have aggressive tendencies in the wild and all are extensively line-bred for aggression in eastern Thailand). The Thai phrase is not restricted to one specific strain. The term "fighting fish" is generalized to all members of the B. splendens species complex, including the Siamese fighting fish. [7] [8]

Diet

Wild Betta fish are hardy and eat almost any animal small enough for these small fish to consume, including worms, larvae of mosquitoes or other insects, and smaller fish. Their natural environment is often resource-limited, so many Betta species are generalist feeders.

Bettas as pets

Bettas are commonly kept as pet fish, especially Siamese fighting fish. Bettas are popular fish due to their color variety and ease to care for, although the males must be kept separated from other bettas. [9]

Conservation

While many Betta species are common and B. splendens is ubiquitous in the aquarium trade, other bettas are threatened. The IUCN Red List classifies several Betta species as Vulnerable. In addition, B. livida is Endangered, and B. miniopinna, B. persephone, and B. spilotogena are Critically Endangered. [10]

The United Nations Environment Programme lists an unconfirmed species, Betta cf. tomi, as having become extinct in Singapore between 1970 and 1994. [11] This likely refers to the extirpated Singaporean population of B. tomi, which continues to exist in the wild in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as in captivity; the Red List classifies it as Vulnerable. [12] [13]

Species

A pair of Betta smaragdina Betta smaragdina pair1.jpg
A pair of Betta smaragdina
Male Betta tussyae Betta tussyae (male) 2010-04-01.JPG
Male Betta tussyae

There are currently 76 recognized species in this genus. The currently described Betta species can be grouped into species complexes: [1] [14] [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gourami</span> Family of fishes

Gouramis, or gouramies, are a group of freshwater anabantiform fish that comprise the family Osphronemidae. The fish are native to Asia—from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and northeasterly towards Korea. The name "gourami", of Indonesian origin, is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang betta</span> Species of fish

The Penang betta is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia and common in swiftly flowing forest streams of the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Sumatra, and the Riau Islands. In addition to its native range, the species has been introduced to Guam. It can be found amongst the vegetation growing along the banks. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres (2.6 in) SL. It is one of the mouthbrooding Betta species. This species, as a natural predator of mosquito larvae, has found use in mosquito control efforts. Prior to its being eclipsed in Western public recognition by the mass-imported B. splendens, B. pugnax was well known as a fighting fish, as denoted by the specific epithet of pugnax, attracting the interest of scientists studying animal behaviour at least as long ago as the 1880s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siamese fighting fish</span> Gourami native to Thailand

The Siamese fighting fish, commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 73 species of the genus Betta, but the only one eponymously called "betta", owing to its global popularity as a pet; Betta splendens are among the most popular aquarium fish in the world, due to their diverse and colorful morphology and relatively low maintenance.

The spotted betta or Java fighting fish is a species of gourami endemic to Indonesia where it inhabits relatively cool, 22‒25 °C (72‒75 °F), highland streams of Java. In 1967, D. S. Johnson reported the species to be common in blackwaters of southern Malaya.

<i>Hemibagrus</i> Genus of fishes

Hemibagrus is a genus of catfishes of the family Bagridae.

<i>Parosphromenus</i> Genus of fishes

Parosphromenus is a genus of gouramies native to freshwater in Southeast Asia. All species are highly specialized peat swamp inhabitants native to southeast Asia, and the males are usually brightly colored in breeding dress; however, their need for soft, acidic water and live food prohibits the genus from becoming popular aquarium fish.

<i>Betta albimarginata</i> Species of fish

Betta albimarginata is a species of betta fish, endemic to the island of Borneo where it is only found in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan Timur. It inhabits the shallows of forest streams amongst vegetation and debris along the shores. This species grows to a length of 2.8 cm (1.1 in). It is a mouthbrooding species.

<i>Betta ferox</i> Species of fish

Betta ferox is a species of gourami endemic to Thailand. It is only found in rivers in Songkhla Province, where it resides along shallow riverbanks among vegetation. This species grows to a length of 6.3 centimetres (2.5 in) SL. This species is closely related to Betta pugnax and is also a paternal mouthbrooder. Males and females are dimorphic, with males displaying elongated ventral fins, elongated caudal fins, and green coloration on the gill plates. Females typically display two horizontal brown bars across their bodies, shorter fins, and a more rounded body shape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macropodusinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

The Macropodusinae are a subfamily of freshwater anabantiform fishes in the gourami family Osphronemidae, which includes the paradisefish, fighting fish and licorice gouramis. Like all members of the family, these are air breathing fishes that frequently inhabit oxygen poor environments hostile to other fishes. They are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. Many members are common aquarium fish; by far the most famous is the Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens. Most of the 70+ betta species are paternal mouthbrooders; the remaining members of the subfamily are bubblenesters like most osphronemids.

Heok Hui Tan is a Singaporean ichthyologist at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore. Dr. Tan's main interest lies in the systematics of Southeast Asian freshwater fishes, encompassing taxonomy, ecology and biogeography. His primary areas of research focus on neglected and de novo habitats such as peat swamp forests, swamp forests, and rapids.

Betta akarensis, the Akar betta, is a species of gourami endemic to south-east Sarawak, and whose species name akar was so named after where it was originally found in the river Sungai Akar. This species is a mouthbrooder, and grows to a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL. According to Linke, they "live predominantly in mineral-poor, slightly acid water enriched with humic substances".

Betta antoni is a species of gourami endemic to the Sanggau area in the Kapuas region. The species name antoni is named after Irwan Anton "in recognition of his generous help and gift of specimens". This species grows to a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL. According to Linke, they live in "densely vegetated, narrow watercourses with very soft, very acidic water"

Betta aurigans is a species of gourami endemic to the island of Natuna Besar, north-west of the island of Borneo The species name aurigans is so named after the Latin for gold, due to the colouring of the scales of the fish. According to Linke, they live in "blackwater swamp regions"

<i>Betta mahachaiensis</i> Species of fish

Betta mahachaiensis is a species of bubble-nesting betta native to Thailand, where it occurs naturally near the Gulf of Thailand. It is typically seen in stagnant waters in swamps, pools, and ponds. The species can be found in brackish waters, with salinity levels between 1.1 and 10.6 parts per thousand. Betta mahachaiensis is capable of living in both fresh water and brackish water, a trait unique among fish in the genus Betta. This species grows to a length of 5 to 6 cm. It is found in the aquarium trade.

Betta obscura is a species of gourami that occurs in the Barito basin in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia. This species is a mouthbrooder, and grows to a length of around 9 centimetres (3.5 in) SL.

Betta pardalotos is a species of fish in the family Osphronemidae. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in the Musi River basin on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The species reaches 7.2 cm in standard length and is known to be a facultative air-breather. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates such as zooplankton.

Betta breviobesa is a species of gourami. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in the upper Kapuas River basin in West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo in Indonesia. The species reaches 6.5 centimetres (2.6 in) in standard length and is known to be a facultative air-breather. It was described in 1998 by Heok Hui Tan and Maurice Kottelat alongside the species Betta pinguis, which also occurs in the Kapuas basin.

Betta kuehnei is a species of gourami. It is native to Asia, where it occurs in Malaysia and Thailand. It is typically found in shallow, shaded forest creeks among aquatic plants such as Cryptocoryne cordata and leaf litter. The water in which the species occurs is clear, with a pH of 7, a hardness of 3 dGH, and a temperature of 25 °C. It is known to occur alongside the species Parosphromenus paludicola and Trichopsis vittata. The species reaches 8 cm in total length and is known to be a facultative air-breather. Males of the species exhibit mouthbrooding.

Betta andrei is a species of gourami in the family Osphronemidae. It is a black water fighting fish that is endemic to Singkep Island, Indonesia. It was described in 2023 by Heok Hui Tan, who named it after Andre Chandra, a fish collector and enthusiast who helped him during his fieldwork.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). Species of Betta in FishBase . March 2019 version.
  2. ↑ Marcus Song, Caring for Betta Fish Lulu Press, 2006. ISBN   1-4116-9365-5
  3. ↑ Fernando, Yohan. "Betta edithae - a Pseudo Betta?". International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  4. 1 2 Rüber, Lukas; Britz, Ralf; Tan, Heok Hui; Ng, Peter K. L.; Zardoya, Rafael (April 2004). "Evolution of Mouthbrooding and Life-History Correlates in the Fighting Fish Genus Betta". Evolution. Society for the Study of Evolution. 53 (4): 799–813. doi:10.1554/03-364. JSTOR   3449277. S2CID   198158291.
  5. 1 2 "Betta". American Heritage Dictionary (4th ed.). Archived from the original on 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
  6. ↑ "Common Names Summary - Betta picta". Fishbase.org. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  7. ↑ "Betta splendens – Siamese Fighting Fish (Micracanthus marchei)" . Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  8. ↑ americanaquariumproducts.com. "Betta Fish Information; Plakats, Veiltails, Halfmoon, Crowntail". www.americanaquariumproducts.com. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Thomas, David. "Top 25 Most Popular Freshwater Fish For Beginners - Everything Fishkeeping" . Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  10. ↑ "2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" . Retrieved 2006-06-30.
  11. ↑ "Extinctions since 1970". United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-07-01.
  12. ↑ Kottelat, M. (1996). "Betta tomi". 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved 2006-07-01.
  13. ↑ "Betta tomi". International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2006-07-01.
  14. ↑ "Species Complex Management". International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program. Retrieved 2006-07-01.
  15. ↑ "Betta". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 30 June 2006.
  16. ↑ Tan, H.H.; Ng, P.K.L. (2005). "The fighting fishes (Teleostei: Osphronemidae: genus Betta) of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 13: 43–99.
  17. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2023). "Betta breviobesa". FishBase.
  18. ↑ Tan Heok Hui (2023). "A new species of black water fighting fish from Singkep Island (Teleostei: Osphronemidae)". The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 71: 491–495.
  19. ↑ Tan Heok Hui (2009). "Betta pardalotos, a new species of fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from Sumatra, Indonesia". The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 57 (2): 501–504.
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