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Betta Bleeker, 1850, is a genus of freshwater fish in the gourami family (Osphronemidae), found predominantly in Southeast Asia. The type species is the spotted betta (B. picta), but the best-known species is the Siamese fighting fish (B. splendens). Many Betta species are well-suited as aquarium specimens.
Until recently, Betta was a member of the anabantid (Anabantidae) family, and many older references continue to use that classification.
The term "betta" is used as a common name for species of the genus, but it often refers specifically to B. splendens. The first syllable of the name is formally pronounced as the word bet, not bait; even though the name has no connection to the Greek letter beta, it is commonly pronounced as the Greek letter, to the consternation of purists.
Breathing air
The reason for the previous classification of Betta among the anabantids is its possession of the labyrinth organ characteristic of that family. This is located just behind the head and it is a small chamber with many folds covered in tissue with many blood vessels that allow it to breath atmospheric air.
This is useful in the oxygen poor waters where Betta lives, and it is so dependent upon it that a Betta will die if it cannot reach the water surface to breathe.
Breeding
The male Betta builds the nest for the female's eggs by blowing sticky air bubbles. These bubbles froth at the surface of the water and he fertilizes into it. Once the young hatch, the male briefly guards them. A male may build such a nest even if there is no female present, though he will only build it if he is well taken care of. Male bettas are so aggressive toward rivals that usually only one may be kept in the same tank, while females do not fight with each other.
References
- FishBase: Betta (http://www.fishbase.org/Eschmeyer/GeneraSummary.cfm?ID=Betta)
- ITIS: Betta (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=172610)
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