Betta livida
Taxonomy
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Specific Epithetlivida Ng & Kottelat, 1992
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Common Name
- Emerald-spot Fighting Fish (English)
- Ikan Picat (Malay)
- Laga Sungai Besar (Malay)
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ResidentialNative
Description
The fighting fish, commonly known as Betta, is a freshwater ray-finned fish found in the Southeast Asia region. Betta is usually small in size, but they are energetic and colorful. Currently, there are around 75 species of Betta recorded worldwide, with Malaysia having approximately 28 species, with 10 of them being endemic.
The emerald-spot fighting fish or Betta livida, is one of the endangered fighting fishes, which is rare and endemic to the northern Selangor and southern Perak states in Peninsular Malaysia. It belongs to the family Osphronemidae and is locally known as ikan picat or laga sungai besar in Malay (Zakaria-Ismail et al., 2019). It inhabits peat swamp areas and blackwater streams, which are highly acidic and have a pH value of five or less. In general, this species occurs in well-shaded shallow and stagnant water, which is less than one meter (Zakaria-Ismail et al., 2019).
The species epithet is derived from the Latin word, lividus meaning jealousy, which refers to the green eyes of this fish species. The flanks of this species have an iridescent green blotch. Betta livida exhibits sexual dimorphism, whereby the males are more colorful and have longer dorsal fins than the females when they reach maturity. Also, the posterior rays of the male can reach beyond the base of the caudal fin and up to one-third of the caudal fin (Zakaria-Ismail et al., 2019). It can grow up to 36.3 mm in length. Its diets include insects and small invertebrates (Ng & Kottelat, 1992).
Assessment
| Year Published | Assessment | Red List Category | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
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3.1 |
| 1996 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Endangered (EN)
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2.3 |
Biodiversity Experts
| Profile | |
|---|---|
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Fishes (Ecology),
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Amir Shah Ruddin Md Sah (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
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Fishes (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, Ecosystems, Environment, Marine & Coastal & Water
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Amirrudin Bin Ahmad (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
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Amphibians, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Fishes, Reptiles,
Biodiversity, Data Analysis, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Living Modified Organism (LMO), Marine & Coastal, Protected Areas & Invasive Alien Species
|
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Amy Then Yee Hui (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
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Fishes (Ecology), Seahorses (Ecology), Mammals (Ecology),
Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
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Annie Christianus (Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
|
Fishes,
Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation, Marine & Coastal, Science, Technology & Water
|
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Aziz Bin Arshad (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
|
Fishes (Taxonomy), Crustaceans (Taxonomy), Fishes (Ecology), Crustaceans (Ecology), Molluscs (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Conservation & Marine & Coastal
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|
Charles Leh Moi Ung (Dr.)
Sarawak Museum Department (JMS)
|
Fishes, Turtle, Tortoise, and Terrapin, Crustaceans,
Biodiversity & Science
|
|
Chong Ving Ching (Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Fishes,
Agriculture, Marine & Coastal, Environment & Biodiversity
|
|
Darlina Md Naim (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
|
Fishes,
Biodiversity, Biosecurity, Conservation, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Marine & Coastal & Systematics
|
|
Haslawati Baharuddin (Dr.)
Fisheries Research Institute Malaysia (FRI)
|
Fishes (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Invasive Alien Species, Conservation, Agriculture, Biological Resource, Climate Change, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Ecology, Environment & Systematics
|
|
Jeffrine Rovie Ryan Japning (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Monkeys, Fishes, Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas, Science & Technology
|
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Kaviarasu Munian (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
|
Reptiles (Ecology), Amphibians (Ecology), Fishes (Ecology),
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Kayal Vizi Karuppannan (Mrs.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Elephants, Fishes, Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas & Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
|
|
Khaironizam Md Zain (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
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Fishes, Insects,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems & Science
|
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Khairul Adha Bin A. Rahim (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
|
Fishes,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems & Invasive Alien Species
|
|
Mohamad Aqmal Mohd Naser (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Fishes (Ecology),
Biodiversity
|
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Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
|
Fishes,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Environment, Invasive Alien Species & Microorganism
|
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Mohd Ilham Norhakim Lokman (Mr.)
|
Fishes, Fishes,
Conservation
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Mohd Nasarudin Bin Harith @ Abdul Nasir (Mr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
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Fishes (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Ecology, Environment, Marine & Coastal, Science & Water
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Mohd Shafiq Bin Zakeyuddin (Dr.)
TNB Research Sdn Bhd (TNBR)
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Fishes,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Management & Tourism
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Muhammad Fahmi Ahmad (Mr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Fishes,
Biodiversity
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Seah Ying Giat (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Fishes (Taxonomy),
Biodiversity, Marine & Coastal & Molecular
|
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Siti Azizah Mohd Nor (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
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Crustaceans, Fishes, Molluscs,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Marine & Coastal & Molecular
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Siti Tafzilmeriam Sheikh Abdul Kadir (Mrs.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
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Fishes,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Environment, Marine & Coastal & Science
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Soo Chen Lin (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
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Fishes (Ecology),
Ecosystems & Water
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Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli (Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
|
Birds (Ecology), Fishes (Ecology), Molluscs (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Marine & Coastal & Water
|
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Yusri Yusuf (Mr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Fishes,
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Zarul Hazrin Hashim (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
|
Fishes (Ecology),
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Ecosystems, Environment, Protected Areas, Water, Marine & Coastal, Climate Change & Invasive Alien Species
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References
- Chong, V.C., Lee, P.K.Y. & Lau, C.M. (2010). Diversity, extinction risk and conservation of Malaysian fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 76 (9), 2009-2066
- Ng, P. K. L. & Kottelat, M. (1992). Betta livida, a new fighting fish (Teleostei: Belontiidae) from blackwater swamps in Peninsular Malaysia. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 3(2): 177-182.
- Pesona Perikanan Malaysia, 2016. Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia.
- Amal, M.N.A., Intan Faraha, A.G., Lokman, M.I.N, Rasul, A.H.M., Ahmad, A., Zakaria, Z.A., Khaironizam, M.Z., Fahmi-Ahmad, M., Aqmal-Naser, M. & Ismail, A. (2020). Fishes of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest. Kementerian Air, Tanah dan Sumber Asli, Malaysia. pp. 150.
- Mohamad Zaini, S. (2018). Ikan Pelaga: Khazanah Unik Nusantara. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Malaysia. pp. 137.
- Zakaria-Ismail, M., Fatimah, A. & Khaironizam, M.Z. (2019). Fishes of the Freshwater Ecosystems of Peninsular Malaysia. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. pp. 356.
- Tan, K.K. & Nurfarhana-Hizan, H. (2022). Some Endemic Species in Malaysia — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Acknowledgements :- Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Ms. Mira Farzana Binti Mohamad Mokhtar, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nursyafiqa Madzlen, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat, Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin & Dr. Zahar Azuar Zakaria
Photo credit :- M.I.Norhakim Lokman, Muhammad Rasul Abdullah Halim & Zahar Azuar Zakaria
Species Citation :- Betta livida. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/23374. [Retrieved 09 December 2023].
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