Betta persephone

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Betta persephone
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Osphronemidae
Genus: Betta
Species: B. persephone
Binomial name
Betta persephone
(Schaller, 1986)

Betta persephone is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family (Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes. First described in 1986 from a population near Ayer Hitam in Johor state, Malaysia, B. persephone is a rare and elusive species.

This Betta species inhabits soft, acidic waters of 23‒28 °C (73‒82 °F). It reaches a total length of 3.2 cm (1¼ in). The males are largely blue-black in colour, with the females exhibiting browner tones.[1] [2]

B. persephone has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996, as it is restricted to a very small and diminishing area.[3] While a delicate species not easily kept in aquaria, it has been bred successfully in captivity.[2]

This betta's specific epithet derives from the Greek goddess Persephone, queen of the Underworld, a reference to the species's largely blackish colouration.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Betta persephone". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c Betta persephone. International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.
  3. ^ Kottelat, M.. (1996). "Betta persephone". 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.

[edit] External links