# Siamese fighting fish (*Betta splendens*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/siamese-fighting-fish  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) is a bony fish in the family Osphronemidae, subfamily Macropodusinae, within the order Anabantiformes. It was named by Regan in 1910 and belongs to the genus Betta. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment, which is an IUCN threatened category. Other English names for it include fighting betta, halfmoon betta, crowntail betta, Chinese fighting fish and Mexican fighting fish.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Anabantiformes
- family: Osphronemidae
- genus: Betta
- species: *Betta splendens* Regan, 1910

Synonyms: *Betta splendens abbreviata*, *Micracanthus marchei*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the siamese fighting fish?

The siamese fighting fish is a bony fish. It belongs to the family Osphronemidae in the order Anabantiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the siamese fighting fish?

Its scientific name is Betta splendens, placing it in the genus Betta.

### Is the siamese fighting fish endangered?

It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in a global assessment. Vulnerable is an IUCN threatened category.

### Who named Betta splendens?

Betta splendens was named by Regan in 1910.

### What other names does the siamese fighting fish have?

Other English names include Fighting betta, Halfmoon betta, Crowntail betta, Chinese fighting fish and Mexican fighting fish.

### What family does the siamese fighting fish belong to?

It belongs to the family Osphronemidae, in the subfamily Macropodusinae and the suborder Anabantoidei.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/siamese-fighting-fish