Penang betta

Taxobox
name = Penang betta
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Osphronemidae
genus = "Betta"
species = ""'B. pugnax"
binomial = "Betta pugnax"
binomial_authority = (Cantor, 1849)The Penang betta, "Betta pugnax", is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family (Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes. It is native to and common in swiftly-flowing forest streams of the Malay Peninsula, Cambodia, Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra, having originally been described from a population in Penang state in Malaysia. In addition to its native range, the species has been introduced to Guam.FishBase species
genus = Betta | species = pugnax | month = March | year = 2006] cite web
title="Betta pugnax"
publisher=International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program
url=http://ibc-smp.org/species/pugnax.html
accessdate=2006-06-30]

The Penang betta grows to a maximum length of 12 cm (4.7 in). Drab in appearance with typical "Betta" shape, some individuals have dark and light longitudinal stripes on their flanks.

Preferring clear, soft, acidic waters of 24‒28 °C (75‒82 °F), this betta shelters under overhanging shore vegetation and among submerged roots and leaves in its native streams.It is one of the mouthbrooding "Betta" species.

"B. pugnax," as a natural predator of mosquito larvae, has found use in mosquito control efforts.cite journal
title=An Annotated Bibliography of Papers Relating to the Control of Mosquitoes by the Use of Fish
author=Gerberich, John B.
journal=American Midland Naturalist
volume=36
issue=1
year=1946
pages=87‒131
doi=10.2307/2421623] Prior to its being eclipsed in Western public recognition by the mass-imported "B. splendens" (the Siamese fighting fish), "B. pugnax" was well known as a fighting fish, attracting the interest of scientists studying animal behaviour at least as long ago as the 1880s.cite journal
author=Allen, Grant
title=Sight and Smell in Vertebrates
journal=Mind
volume=6
issue=24
year=1881
pages=453‒71
doi=10.1093/mind/os-VI.24.453] While today far less popular than the ubiquitous "B. splendens," the Penang betta is reputed to be easily kept and bred in hobbyist aquaria.cite web
author=Panitvong, Nonn
title=Mouth Brooder Betta of Thailand
publisher=International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program
url=http://ibc-smp.org/articles/mouthbrooder.html
year=2002
accessdate=2006-06-30]

Cantor originally described the Penang betta as "Macropodus pugnax," classifying it alongside the paradise fish ("M. opercularis"); its specific epithet, "pugnax," is Latin for "fighting". "B. brederi" is a junior synonym for this species."B. pugnax" is also known as the forest betta, the Malayan betta, and the Penang mouth-brooding fighting fish.ITIS|ID=172616|taxon=Betta pugnax|year=2006|date=18 April]

References

External links

* [http://ibc-smp.org/species/pugnax.html#photos International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program photos]