Siamese fighting fish

The betta is native to the central plain of Thailand, where it was domesticated centuries ago; selection created its countless colour and fin varieties. It is GeneticOS's reference species. In the wild it lives in still waters such as rice paddies and floodplains, and is vulnerable. It breathes surface air through its labyrinth organ. Males fight each other. The male builds the bubble nest and tends the eggs.

Scientific name

Betta splendens

Family

Osphronemidae