Betta kuehnei Schindler & Schmidt, 2008

Family:  Osphronemidae (Gouramies), subfamily: Macropodusinae
Max. size:  8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Malaysia and Thailand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 23-24. This species differs from the other species of the Betta pugnax group by having the following combination of characters: rounded caudal-fin; no chin bar and second postorbital stripe; male coloration with intensive blue or bluish-green iridescent (blackish when preserved) area on head sides and on throat from snout tip to posterior edge of opercle; short second central stripe fused with the central stripe above anterior part of anal fin (Ref. 82661).
Biology:  The species were collected in shallow water, among aquatic plants (Cryptocoryn cordata) and leaf litter. It is a shaded, forested creek with clear water, colorless (pH 7,0, hardness 3 dGH, temperature about 25°C). Other labyrinth fishes collected with Betta kuehnei were Trichopsis vittata and Parosphromenus paludicola. A mouthbrooding species and its reproductive behavior similar to that of other species of the Betta pugnax group where males carry the eggs (usually between 40 to 80) in their mouth for about 12 days. The eggs measure 1.0 to 1.4 mm in diameter with the offspring leaving the mouth at size approximately 7 mm. No particular color pattern was observed during spawning (Ref. 82661).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 12 January 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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