Betta
Fish
Betta is a large genus of small, often
colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes in the gourami
family (Osphronemidae). The type species is B. picta,
the spotted betta. By far the best known Betta species,
however, is B. splendens, the Siamese fighting fish.
All the Betta species are small fishes, but they
vary considerably in size, ranging from under 2.5 cm
(1 inch) total length in B. chanoides to 12.5 cm
(5 inches) in the Akar betta (B. akarensis).
Bettas are anabantoids, which means they can breathe
atmospheric air thanks to 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.
The various bettas can be divided into two groups,
based on their spawning behaviour: some build bubble
nests, like B. splendens, while others are mouthbrooders,
like 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.
The Betta is native freshwater fish from Thailand
(formerly Siam) and Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea).
Wild Betta can often be found in a small pond, river
and drain. As Betta can survive in a low-oxygen
level of water, Betta can live anywhere and mostly
in Asia.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
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