| Citation |
|
Description |
Distribution
Occurs naturally throughout central Thailand, from Chiang Rai province in the north to Surat Thani and Phang Nga provinces at the northern extremity of the Malay Peninsula, , just below the Isthmus of Kra. Records from the remainder of southern (peninsular) Thailand, and the Mekong River basin in eastern Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia refer to other species or introduced populations.
It has been introduced to several countries, largely as a result of escape from ornamental fish farms, with known feral populations established in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.
Type locality is ‘Menam River, Thailand’, which refers to the Chao Phraya river basin.
Habitat
Inhabits still and sluggish waters, including rice paddies, swamps, roadside ditches, streams and ponds. These are often shaded by submerged, surface or marginal vegetation and sometimes contain little dissolved oxygen. Water conditions tend to vary and change rapidly during the annual monsoon season. Substrates can vary from leaf litter to mud, sand, or deep sediment.
Habitat loss or modification across its natural range has increased significantly in recent years and is exerting a significant detrimental effect on wild populations. Introduction of ornamental forms and other Betta spp. is known to be having an adverse effect on the genetic integrity of some wild populations. |
