Betta persephone

Betta persephone
Conservation status
Critically endangered (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Osphronemidae Genus: Betta Species: B. persephone
Binomial name
Betta persephone (Schaller, 1986)

Betta persephone is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the gourami family (Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes. First described in 1986 from a population near Ayer Hitam in Johor state, Malaysia, B. persephone is a rare and elusive species.

This Betta species inhabits soft, acidic waters of 23‒28 °C (73‒82 °F). It reaches a total length of 3.2 cm (1¼ in). The males are largely blue-black in colour, with the females exhibiting browner tones.^{[1] [2]}

B. persephone has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996, as it is restricted to a very small and diminishing area.^[3] While a delicate species not easily kept in aquaria, it has been bred successfully in captivity.^[2]

This betta's specific epithet derives from the Greek goddess Persephone, queen of the Underworld, a reference to the species's largely blackish colouration.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Betta persephone". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Betta persephone. International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.
3. ^ Kottelat, M. (1996). "Betta persephone". 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved on 2006-07-01. 

External links

• International Betta Congress Species Maintenance Program photos

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