Siamese fighting fish
The Siamese fighting fish ("Betta splendens"), commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. While one of 73 species of the genus "Betta," only "Betta splendens" are eponymously called "bettas", due largely to their global popularity as pets: they are among the most widely available aquarium fish in the world, due to their varied and vibrant colour, diverse morphology, and relatively low maintenance. 

Siamese fighting fish are endemic to the central plain of Thailand and have been domesticated for at least 1,000 years, among the longest of any fish. They were initially bred for aggression and subject to gambling matches akin to cockfighting. Bettas became known outside Thailand through King Rama III (1788-1851), who is said to have given some to Theodore Cantor, a Danish physician, zoologist, and botanist. They first appeared in the West in the late 19th century, and within decades became popular as ornamental fish. Their long history of selective breeding has produced a wide variety of coloration and finnage, earning them the moniker, "designer fish of the aquatic world".

Bettas are well known for being highly territorial, with males prone to attacking each other if housed in the same tank; without a means of escape, this will usually result in the death of one or both fish. Female bettas can also become territorial towards one other in confined spaces. Bettas are exceptionally tolerant of low oxygen levels and poor water quality, owing to their special labyrinth organ, a characteristic unique to the suborder "Anabantoidei" that allows for the intake of surface air. 

In addition to its worldwide popularity, the Siamese fighting fish is the national aquatic animal of Thailand, which remains the primary breeder and exporter of bettas for the global aquarium market. Despite their abundance as pets, "B. splendens" is listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN, due to increasing pollution and habitat destruction.
Q1072742
freshwater fish
Concept
Q11708
Southeast Asia
LOC
Q424
Cambodia
LOC
Q819
Laos
LOC
Q836
Myanmar
LOC
Q833
Malaysia
LOC
Q252
Indonesia
LOC
Q869
Thailand
LOC
Q881
Vietnam
LOC
Q7432
species
Concept
Q34740
genus
Concept
Q4164940
Betta
Concept
Q204335
eponymously
Concept
Q6560132
aquarium fish
UNK
Q183252
morphology
Concept
Q319771
cockfighting
Concept
Q319669
King Rama III
PER
Q1386345
Theodore Cantor
PER
Q698225
labyrinth organ
Concept
Q698225
Anabantoidei
Concept
Q3245895
national aquatic animal
UNK
Q278113
vulnerable
Concept
Q48268
IUCN
ORG
Q552431
habitat destruction
UNK
Q549
Siamese fighting fish
Concept
Q549
Siamese fighting fish
Concept
Q549
Siamese fighting fish
Concept
+73^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
73
NUMBER
+1788^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
1788
NUMBER
-1851^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
-1851
NUMBER
+19^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
19
NUMBER
taxon rank
parent taxon
IUCN conservation status
part of
part of
located on terrain feature
located on terrain feature
taxon rank