Betta splendens Regan, 1910

Hui, Tan Heok, Peng, Kelvin Lim Kok, Huan, Liew Jia, Wei, Low Bi, Hing, Rayson Lim Bock, Beng, Jeffrey Kwik Teik & Yeo, Darren C. J., 2020, The non-native freshwater fishes of Singapore: an annotated compilation, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68, pp. 150-195 : 183

Betta splendens Regan

( Fig. 110 , SEA[SPC])

References. Cantor, 1849 (as Macropodus pugnax ); Herre, 1940; Tweedie, 1952; Johnson, 1964; Johnson, 1973a; Lim & Ng, 1990; Munro, 1990; Ng et al., 1993 (as B. imbellis ); Lever, 1996; Ng & Lim, 1997b; National Parks Board, 2003; Tan HH et al., 2010; Tan, 2016b.

Distribution. This species had been sighted by Cantor (1849) and subsequently obtained by Herre in 1940 from Mandai area; Sembawang-Nee Soon area ( Johnson, 1964, 1973a); Jurong Lake ( Johnson, 1973a); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve ( National Parks Board, 2003); Kallang River (now part of Marina Reservoir; Munro, 1990; Tan HH et al., 2010); Kent Ridge Park ponds ( Tan, 2016b); Bukit Batok (Ng DJJ, pers. obs., 2018).

Remarks. This is a very popular ornamental fish species ubiquitous in aquarium shops, thus its presence in Singapore’s water bodies is not surprising. Recently, this species is commonly sold as live feed in the ornamental fish trade, the culled fish being a by-product from selective breeding (Tan HH, pers. obs.).

Figures

Fig. 110. Betta splendens, ca. 30 mm SL male, trade material.