Betta pulchra Tan & Tan, 1996
Betta pulchra
photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv

Family:  Osphronemidae (Gouramies), subfamily: Macropodusinae
Max. size:  5.59 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 3.9 - 4.2
Distribution:  Asia: restricted to Pontian, Johor, West Malaysia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-2; Anal soft rays: 22-26; Vertebrae: 29-29. In comparison with other members of the B. pugnax species group, this can be differentiated by the following combination of characters: presence of chin-bar; absence of dark marks below postorbital stripe on opercle; presence of dorsal transverse bars; caudal transverse bars present only in male; greenish iridescent scales on opercle and body; anal fin with red subdistal border and black edge; caudal fin without distal dark edge; anal-fin rays 24-28 (mode 26); lateral scales 28-30 (mode 29); postdorsal scales 10-11 (mode 10); pelvic fin length 29.1-53.2% SL; head length 32.7-37.6% SL; inter-orbital width 34.3-41.8% HL (Ref. 56613).
Biology:  Inhabits peat swamp forests (Ref. 84801). Occurs in blackwater habitats and commonly found only in the overgrown bank vegetation of the irrigation canals. Paternal Mouth brooder (Ref. 13220).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 17 January 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.