Penang Betta
Betta pugnax
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Fish
The Penang betta —also known as Sepilai, the Malayan forest betta, or Malayan betta—is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia and common in swiftly flowing forest streams of the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Sumatra, and the Riau Islands. It can be found amongst the vegetation growing along the banks. This species can reach a length of 6.7 centimetres SL. It is one of the mouthbrooding Betta species. This species, as a natural predator of mosquito larvae, has found use in mosquito control efforts. Prior to its being eclipsed in Western public recognition by the mass-imported B. splendens, B. pugnax was well known as a fighting fish, as denoted by the specific epithet of pugnax.
Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Anabantiformes
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Genus
- Betta