Betta siamorientalis, a new species of bubble-nest building fighting fish (Teleostei: Osphronemidae) from eastern Thailand

Abstract

Betta siamorientalis sp. n., a new species of fighting fish belonging to the Betta splendens group, inhabiting four provinces in the eastern Thailand, is described. The combination of slender body shape with reddish vertical bars on the black opercle and an apparent black body distinguishes the new species from other congeners especially B. imbellis. The blacker appearance relative to B. imbellis is due to a higher proportion of black body area relative to that occupied by blue/green iridescence of the scales. Based on morphological similarity and fin colour pattern and vertical bar colour on the opercle, the new species appears to be more closely related to B. imbellis and B. splendens than other members of the B. splendens group.

Should the Identification Guidelines for Siamese Crocodiles Be Revised? Differing Post-Occipital Scute Scale Numbers Show Phenotypic Variation Does Not Result from Hybridization with Saltwater Crocodiles

“…This suggests that Siamese crocodiles with fewer than four scales in a row are part of normal phenotypic variations at the species level. Similarly, the first version of the species identification guideline was revised after DNA analysis and proved various characteristics under the same species such as in fighting fishes [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Characterization of Microsatellite Distribution in Siamese Fighting Fish Genome to Promote Conservation and Genetic Diversity

“…We genotyped 21 individuals belonging to 11 fighting fish species-Mahachai betta (B. mahachaiensis), Eastern wild betta (B. siamorientalis, Kowasupat, Panijpan, Ruenwongsa and Jeenthong, 2012) [87], peaceful betta (B. imbellis), Mekong fighting fish (B. smaragdina), three-lined mouth brooder (B. prima, [79], simple mouth brooder (B. simplex, [79], pi betta (B. pi, Tan, 1998) [88], pallida betta (B. pallida, Schindler and Schmidt, 2004 [89], apollon betta (B. apollon, Schindler and Schmidt, 2006) [90], ferox betta (B. ferox, Schindler and Schmidt, 2006) [90], and Penang betta (B. pugnax, Cantor, 1849) [91]to investigate potential cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers (Table 1). PCR amplification for microsatellite genotyping was performed as mentioned above.…”