Betta splendens

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	OSPHRONEMIDAE

Scientific Name:

Betta splendens

Species Authority:

Regan, 1910

Common Name/s:

English

–

Siamese Fighting Fish

Synonym/s:

Betta splendens subspecies abbreviata Blanc 1963

Micracanthus marchei Sauvage 1879

Taxonomic Notes:

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable A2ace ver 3.1
Year Published:	2011
Assessor/s:	Vidthayanon, C.
Reviewer/s:	Rainboth, W., Ng, H.H. & Allen, D.
Contributor/s:
Justification: This species is threatened by habitat degradation. Habitats across most of its range have been converted into intensive farmland, developed, or polluted, especially in central Thailand which is its centre of population. Genetic erosion from escaped farmed stock into wild habitats is a secondary threat. Currently its exact extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are poorly known, but is locally uncommon it its suitable habitats. The species is assessed as Vulnerable due to a suspected population decline of at least 30% across its range, and a declining area and extent of occurrence.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to Thailand, from the Mae Khlong to Chao Phraya basins, the eastern slope of the Cardamom mountains, and from the Isthmus of Kra.
Countries:	Native: Thailand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Locally uncommon throughout its range, suffered much decline due to habitat degradation and pollution.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Inhabits intact marshlands in shallow zones, adaptive to paddyfields.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat degradation is the main threat to the species, and most of its suitable lowland habitat has been converted into intensive farmland and urban areas, or polluted, especially in central Thailand. Genetic erosion is a secondary threat from escaped farmed stock into wild habitats.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat degradation is the main threat to the species, and most of its suitable lowland habitat has been converted into intensive farmland and urban areas, or polluted, especially in central Thailand. Genetic erosion is a secondary threat from escaped farmed stock into wild habitats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Captive breeding from wild populations is strongly recommended. Management of known habitats is also needed.

Conservation Actions:

Captive breeding from wild populations is strongly recommended. Management of known habitats is also needed.

Citation:	Vidthayanon, C. 2011. Betta splendens. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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