Betta spilotogena Ng & Kottelat, 1994

Family:  Osphronemidae (Gouramies), subfamily: Macropodusinae
Max. size:  6.97 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range - 1 m
Distribution:  Asia: known only from Pulau Bintan and Pulau Singkep, Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 27-27. Distinguished from Betta chloropharynx in the following characters: median black throat spot (vs. two rounded black marks); spotted opercle (vs. non-spotted); opercle with black lower margin (vs. yellow margin). Differs from Betta hipposideros in the following characters: median black throat (vs. horse-shoe shape mark); spotted opercle (vs. non-spotted); opercle with black lower margin (vs. yellow or brown); more postdorsal scales (mode 10 vs. 9 1/2). Can be differentiated from Betta renata in the following characters: black median spot (vs. kidney-shaped mark); absence of dorsal and caudal transverse bars (vs. presence); fewer subdorsal scales ( mode 5 1/2 vs. 6 1/2); fewer postdorsal scales (mode 10 vs. 12); more anal fin rays (mode 30 vs. 29); and more lateral scales (mode 32 vs. 31) (Ref. 56386).
Biology:  Inhabits swamps as well as adjacent streams, usually in relatively shallow water about a meter or so in depth with dense vegetation growing along the banks and under shade.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 07 January 2019 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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