HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Betta'' is a large
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of small, active, often colorful,
freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term excludes seawater and brackish water, but it does include non-salty mi ...
ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fish or actinopterygians, is a class of bony fish that comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. They are so called because of their lightly built fins made of webbings of sk ...
es, in the
gourami Gouramis, or gouramies , are a group of fresh water, freshwater Anabantiformes, anabantiform fish that comprise the family (biology), family Osphronemidae. The fish are native to Asia—from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and northeas ...
family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
(Osphronemidae). The best known ''Betta'' species is ''B. splendens,'' commonly known as the
Siamese fighting fish The Siamese fighting fish (''Betta splendens''), 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 76 species of the genus '' Bet ...
and often kept as an
aquarium An aquarium (: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. fishkeeping, Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquati ...
pet.


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''). Bettas are
anabantoid The Anabantoidei are a suborder of anabantiform ray-finned freshwater fish distinguished by their possession of a lung-like labyrinth organ, which enables them to breathe air. The fish in the Anabantoidei suborder are known as anabantoids or la ...
s, which means they can breathe atmospheric air using a unique organ called the
labyrinth In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth () is an elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, the monster eventually killed by the h ...
. 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 A stream is a continuous body of surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to by a variety of local or regional names. Long, large stream ...
, drainage ditches, and large puddles. The bettas exhibit two kinds of spawning behaviour: some build
bubble nest Bubble nests, also called foam nests, are created by some fish and frog species as floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, saliva bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants. Fish that build and guard bubble nests are known as aph ...
s, such as ''B. splendens'', while others are
mouthbrooder Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a va ...
s, such as ''B. picta''. The mouthbrooding species are sometimes called "pseudo bettas", and are sometimes speculated to have
evolved Evolution is the change in the heritable Phenotypic trait, characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It occurs when evolutionary processes such as natural selection and genetic drift act on genetic variation, re ...
from the nest-builders in an
adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the p ...
to their fast-moving stream habitats. 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 Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...
swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...
forests A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological functio ...
, and whether it was found in water with fast or slow currents. Mouthbrooding species tend to exhibit less sexual dimorphism, perhaps because they do not need to defend a territory as the bubble-nesters do.


Name

Siamese fighting fish The Siamese fighting fish (''Betta splendens''), 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 76 species of the genus '' Bet ...
(''B. splendens'') are frequently sold in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
simply as "bettas". , around 73 species are classified within the genus ''Betta''. 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. The
common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...
of ''B. pugnax,'' for example, is thus
Penang betta The Penang betta (''Betta pugnax'') 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 b ...
. The name ''Betta'' (or betta) is pronounced ; the first part is the same as the English word bet. The name is often pronounced in
American English American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United States. English is the Languages of the United States, most widely spoken lang ...
, and may be spelled with one 't'. The name of the genus is derived from the Malay term ''ikan betah'' ("persistent fish"). 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 Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
). 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.


Diet

Wild ''Betta'' fish are hardy and eat almost any animal small enough to consume. This includes 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.


Conservation

While many ''Betta'' species are common and ''B. splendens'' is ubiquitous in the aquarium trade, other bettas are threatened. The
IUCN Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is an inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological ...
classifies several ''Betta'' species as Vulnerable. In addition, '' B. livida'' is Endangered, and '' B. miniopinna,'' '' B. persephone,'' and '' B. spilotogena'' are Critically Endangered. The
United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the Declaration of the United Nati ...
lists an unconfirmed species, ''Betta'' cf. ''tomi,'' as having become
extinct Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...
in
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
between 1970 and 1994. This likely refers to the
extirpated Local extinction, also extirpation, is the termination of a species (or other taxon) in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinctions. Local extinctions mark a chan ...
Singaporean population of '' B. tomi,'' which continues to exist in the wild in
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
and
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, as well as in captivity; the Red List classifies it as Vulnerable.


Species

There are currently 76 recognized species in this genus. The currently described ''Betta'' species can be grouped into
species complex In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...
es: * ''B. akarensis'' complex: ** '' Betta akarensis'' Regan, 1910 (Akar betta) ** '' Betta antoni'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2006 ** '' Betta aurigans'' H. H. Tan & K. K. P. Lim, 2004 ** '' Betta balunga'' Herre, 1940 ** '' Betta chini'' P. K. L. Ng, 1993 ** '' Betta ibanorum'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2004 ** '' Betta nuluhon'' N. S. S. Kamal, H. H. Tan & Casey K. C. Ng, 2020 ** '' Betta obscura'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 ** ''
Betta pinguis ''Betta pinguis'' is a species of gourami endemic to Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising ove ...
'' H. H. Tan & Kottelat, 1998 * ''B. albimarginata'' complex: ** ''
Betta albimarginata ''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 sho ...
'' Kottelat & P. K. L. Ng, 1994 ** '' Betta channoides'' Kottelat & P. K. L. Ng, 1994 * ''B. anabatoides'' complex: ** '' Betta anabatoides'' Bleeker, 1851 (giant betta) ** '' Betta midas'' H. H. Tan, 2009 * ''B. bellica'' complex: ** '' Betta bellica'' Sauvage, 1884 (slim betta) ** '' Betta simorum'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 1996 * ''B. coccina'' complex: ** '' Betta brownorum'' K. E. Witte & J. Schmidt, 1992 ** '' Betta burdigala'' Kottelat & P. K. L. Ng, 1994 ** '' Betta coccina'' Vierke, 1979 ** '' Betta hendra'' I. Schindler & Linke, 2013 ** ''
Betta iaspis ''Betta'' is a large genus of small, active, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, in the gourami family (Osphronemidae). The best known ''Betta'' species is ''B. splendens,'' commonly known as the Siamese fighting fish and often kept ...
'' Ding, Lei,
Haryono Lieutenant General List of Surakarta and Yogyakarta nobility titles, Mas Tirtodarmo Haryono (20 January 1924 – 1 October 1965) was a general officer in the Indonesian Army who was killed during an attempt to kidnap him from his home by mem ...
, Shi, &
Zhang Zhang may refer to: Chinese culture, etc. * Zhang (surname) (張/张), common Chinese surname ** Zhang (surname 章), a rarer Chinese surname * Zhang County (漳县), of Dingxi, Gansu * Zhang River (漳河), a river flowing mainly in Henan * ''Zha ...
, 2025
** '' Betta livida'' P. K. L. Ng & Kottelat, 1992 ** ''
Betta mulyadii ''Betta'' is a large genus of small, active, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes, in the gourami family (Osphronemidae). The best known ''Betta'' species is ''B. splendens,'' commonly known as the Siamese fighting fish and often kept ...
'' Ding, Lei,
Haryono Lieutenant General List of Surakarta and Yogyakarta nobility titles, Mas Tirtodarmo Haryono (20 January 1924 – 1 October 1965) was a general officer in the Indonesian Army who was killed during an attempt to kidnap him from his home by mem ...
, Shi, &
Zhang Zhang may refer to: Chinese culture, etc. * Zhang (surname) (張/张), common Chinese surname ** Zhang (surname 章), a rarer Chinese surname * Zhang County (漳县), of Dingxi, Gansu * Zhang River (漳河), a river flowing mainly in Henan * ''Zha ...
, 2025
** '' Betta persephone'' Schaller, 1986 ** '' Betta rutilans'' K. E. Witte & Kottelat, 1991 ** '' Betta tussyae'' Schaller, 1985 ** '' Betta uberis'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2006 * ''B. dimidiata'' complex: ** '' Betta dimidiata'' T. R. Roberts, 1989 ** '' Betta krataios'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2006 * ''B. edithae'' complex: ** '' Betta edithae'' Vierke, 1984 * ''B. foerschi'' complex: ** '' Betta dennisyongi'' H. H. Tan, 2013 ** '' Betta foerschi'' Vierke, 1979 ** '' Betta mandor'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2006 ** ''
Betta rubra The Toba betta (''Betta rubra'') is a species of gourami endemism, endemic to Sumatra, Indonesia where it is an inhabitant of peat swamps. The species grows to a length of fish measurement, TL, and it can also be found in the aquarium trade. Pa ...
''
Perugia Perugia ( , ; ; ) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area. It has 162,467 ...
, 1893
(Toba betta) ** '' Betta strohi'' Schaller & Kottelat, 1989 * ''B. picta'' complex: ** '' Betta falx'' H. H. Tan & Kottelat, 1998 ** ''
Betta picta The spotted betta or Java fighting fish (''Betta picta'') 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 s ...
'' (
Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced ...
, 1846)
(spotted betta) ** '' Betta simplex'' Kottelat, 1994 ** ''
Betta taeniata ''Betta taeniata'' is a species of gourami endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo, where it lives in inland waters. Description ''Betta taeniata'' is known to display paternal mouthbrooding. Males of the species have more vibrant colo ...
'' Regan, 1910 (Borneo betta) * ''B. pugnax'' complex: ** '' Betta apollon'' I. Schindler & J. Schmidt, 2006 ** ''
Betta breviobesa ''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 in standard length and is known to be a facultative ...
'' H. H. Tan & Kottelat, 1998 ** '' Betta cracens'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 ** '' Betta enisae'' Kottelat, 1995 ** '' Betta ferox'' I. Schindler & J. Schmidt, 2006 ** '' Betta fusca'' Regan, 1910 (dusky betta) ** '' Betta kuehnei'' I. Schindler & J. Schmidt, 2008 ** '' Betta lehi'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 ** '' Betta pallida'' I. Schindler & J. Schmidt, 2004 ** '' Betta prima'' Kottelat, 1994 ** '' Betta pugnax'' (
Cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. Cantor as a profession generally refers to those leading a Jewish congregation, although it also applies to the lead singer or choir director in Christian contexts. ...
, 1849)
(Penang betta) ** '' Betta pulchra'' H. H. Tan & S. H. Tan, 1996 ** '' Betta raja'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 ** '' Betta schalleri'' Kottelat & P. K. L. Ng, 1994 ** '' Betta stigmosa'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 * ''B. splendens'' complex (fighting fish): ** ''
Betta imbellis The peaceful betta or crescent betta (''Betta imbellis'') is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia. ''Betta imbellis'' has a pair of suprabranchial chambers that each house a labyrinth organ, a complex bony structure lined with thin, hig ...
'' Ladiges, 1975 (crescent betta) ** '' Betta mahachaiensis'' Kowasupat, Panijpan, Ruenwongsa & Sriwattanarothai, 2012 ** '' Betta siamorientalis'' Kowasupat, Panijpan, Ruenwongsa & Jeenthong, 2012 ** '' Betta smaragdina'' Ladiges, 1972 (Blue betta) ** '' Betta splendens'' Regan, 1910 (Siamese fighting fish) ** '' Betta stiktos'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 * ''B. unimaculata'' complex: ** '' Betta compuncta'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2006 ** '' Betta gladiator'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 ** '' Betta ideii'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2006 ** '' Betta macrostoma'' Regan, 1910 (spotfin betta) ** '' Betta ocellata'' de Beaufort, 1933 ** '' Betta pallifina'' H. H. Tan & P. K. L. Ng, 2005 ** '' Betta patoti'' M. C. W. Weber & de Beaufort, 1922 ** '' Betta unimaculata'' (
Popta Canna Maria Louise Popta (31 May 1860 – 13 June 1929)L.B. Holthuis, Biography i1820-1958, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie page 82 (in Dutch). was a Dutch biologist. Born in Breda, Popta was one of the first women to enrol as a student at ...
, 1905)
(Howong betta) * ''B. waseri'' complex: ** ''
Betta andrei ''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 a ...
'' H. H. Tan, 2023 ** ''
Betta chloropharynx ''Betta chloropharynx'' or the green-throated mouthbrooding betta is a species of gourami endemic to Bangka Island, Indonesia. It inhabits the leaf litter in a single pool in a secondary forest A secondary forest (or second-growth forest) is a ...
'' Kottelat & P. K. L. Ng, 1994 ** ''
Betta hipposideros ''Betta hipposideros'' is a species of gourami native to Malaysia ; its range extends southwards to the Riau Archipelago. It is an inhabitant of blackwater swamps. This species grows to a length of . References hipposideros ''Hipposide ...
'' P. K. L. Ng & Kottelat, 1994 ** '' Betta omega'' H. H. Tan &
Ahmad Ahmad () is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other English spellings of the name include Ahmed. It is also used as a surname. Etymology The word derives from the root ( ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from ...
, 2018
** '' Betta pardalotos'' H. H. Tan, 2009 ** ''
Betta pi ''Betta pi'' is a species of gourami belonging to the genus ''Betta''. It is found in the Pru Toe-Daeng peat swamps in Narathiwat Province in Southern Thailand, but its range also extends into northern Peninsular Malaysia, most notably the stat ...
'' H. H. Tan, 1998 ** '' Betta renata'' H. H. Tan, 1998 ** '' Betta spilotogena'' P. K. L. Ng & Kottelat, 1994 ** '' Betta tomi'' P. K. L. Ng & Kottelat, 1994 ** ''
Betta waseri ''Betta waseri'' is a species of gourami endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. It is an inhabitant of well shaded blackwater streams and in peat forests with plentiful organic debris and root growth. This species grows to a length of SL. The spec ...
'' Krummenacher, 1986


References


External links

* * {{Authority control Macropodusinae Fauna of Southeast Asia Fish of Thailand Freshwater fish genera Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker