FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SlAM, OR THAILAND 455 



BETTA TAENIATA Regan 



IBetta trifasciata Karoli, 1882, p. 172 (Siam). 



Betta taeniata Regan, 1910, p. 781, pi. 78, fig. 1 (River Senah, Sarawak). — Smith, 



1929, p. 12 (Nakon Sritamarat, Chantabun). — Masya aud Inurambarya, 1932, 



p. 279 (Koh Samui). 

 'i Betta macrophthalma Fowlee, 1934a, p. 146 (Chatabun). 



Originally described from Sarawak, Borneo, and later ascertained 

 to be an inhabitant of Sumatra also, this species was added to the Thai- 

 land fauna in 1928, when specimens were collected in such widely sepa- 

 rated localities as Nakon Sritamarat in the Peninsula and Chantabun 

 in the Southeastern area. A specimen from the former place was sent 

 to the British Museum and compared with Regan's types by J. R. 

 Norman, who reported that the differences were such as would fall 

 within the limits of variation. In 1931 the fish was collected on Koh 

 Samui, a large island in the Gulf of Siam off the Malay Peninsula. 

 More recently Herre and Myers (1937) have reported the species as 

 "common all through the Malay States." 



The maximum length seems to be somewhat in excess of 8 cm. 



In Klong Nakon Noi, a clear, weedy brook flowing through the town 

 of Nakon Sritamarat, this species was found to be common in July 

 1928, in association with Trichopsis, Trichogaster, Nandus, Rashora^ 

 and Aplocheilus. The fish has a superficial resemblance to Trichopsis^ 

 but the body is stouter, the snout is shorter and broader, and the caudal 

 fin is rounded. In a mountain brook at Ban Ang, on Kao Sabap, 

 Southeastern Thailand, a number of specimens were taken in company 

 with Trichopsis. 



Life colors of fish from Nakon Sritamarat, July 1928 : Back bluish 

 black; two dark longitudinal bands, one from snout, through eye, to 

 base of caudal, one from under eye, across opercle, thence along base 

 of anal fin; a third band, from upper edge of eye to upper part of 

 caudal peduncle, scarcely visible in life but appearing in alcohol; 

 belly white ; cheek and lower opercle flecked with white ; all scales of 

 cheeks, lower opercle, under side of head, and lower side as far as anal 

 fin with minute, round, whitish spots ; dorsal fin light brown, with ob- 

 scure lines of dark spots; caudal and anal fins brown; ventrals and 

 pectorals whitish. 



It is believed that Fowler's record of Betta macrophthalma for 

 Southeastern Thailand should be credited to Betta taeniata. Weber 

 and de Beaufort (1922, vol. 4) consider 7nacrophthalnia a synonym of 

 picta, which is similar to taeniata in general appearance but has only 

 a single spine in the anal fin, while for his material Fowler gives two 

 spines as in taeniata. 



The local vernacular name is pla krim hua mong (big-head krim 

 fish). 



