Betta persephone
Encyclopedia
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.
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. While a delicate species not easily kept in aquaria
, it has been bred successfully in captivity.
This betta's specific epithet derives from the Greek goddess
Persephone
, queen of the Underworld
, a reference to the species's largely blackish colouration.
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
ray-finned fish in the gourami
Gourami
Gouramis are a family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. The name "gourami" is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis" is an example of...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Osphronemidae) of order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Perciformes
Perciformes
The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...
. First described in 1986 from a population near Ayer Hitam
Ayer Hitam
Ayer Hitam is a rest town in Johor, Malaysia. Located just at the junction of route and route , it is known for its many outlets selling pottery and other crafts. It also is one of the interchange for North-South Expressway. It is the border town between Batu Pahat and Kluang district...
in Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
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.
B. persephone has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
since 1996, as it is restricted to a very small and diminishing area. While a delicate species not easily kept in aquaria
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, it has been bred successfully in captivity.
This betta's specific epithet derives from the Greek goddess
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
Persephone
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
, queen of the Underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
, a reference to the species's largely blackish colouration.