I apologize for the timing being a bit off, but the Betta sp. ``Mahachai'', which was familiar to Waldo Betta enthusiasts, was finally described as a new species as Betta mahachaiensis in October last year. So this time, I would like to introduce this Betta Mahachaiensis.

Although this Betta mahachaiensis is a new species, it is not a newly discovered species; its existence itself has been known since around 2002, so it feels like it is only now being discovered. As a side note, I myself wrote an article about this species in a magazine called Aqua Wave in 2003. He remained anonymous for about 10 years. The reason why they could not be described as a new species for such a long time is probably because their habitat is close to people's living areas, and there were many theories that they were hybrids of existing bettas. It is assumed that this required more careful research and took more time.

This description was published by scholars in Thailand, where the species lives, but rumors suggest that ichthyologists from other countries were also conducting research. There is a rule for new species descriptions on a first-come, first-served basis, so the winner this time was a Thai scholar who published a paper in ZOOTAXA, which was published in October last year.

This species lives in Samut Sakhon, located 15-20 km west of Thailand's capital Bangkok. This place is well known to people by the place name Mahachai, so before it was written down, it was popularly known as Betta sp. ``Mahachai'' from this place name. This location is close to the Gulf of Siam, and is a brackish area where Nipa palms and other trees grow. Near the sea, there are tidal flats and mangrove forests. The mudskipper that I previously introduced in this column was also observed here at Mahachai. At least among the currently known species of Betta, there are no known species that live in brackish water.

This species not only lives in brackish waters, but its ecology is also adapted to this environment. When breeding, they build bubble nests at the base of the leaves of the nipa palm. Even if the water recedes due to the tides, this area remains a pocket of water. This allows the bubble nest to remain intact and allow them to breed with peace of mind. When I first learned about this species, I thought that because it lives in a brackish water environment and has a very unique breeding ecology, it was unlikely that it had been released into the wild or become a hybrid. Ta.

This is because such unique ecology cannot be acquired over a few decades. Also, in 2003, I actually visited the area myself and listened to the stories of the people living there while collecting food. The fact that it was not recently discovered and had been traditionally used as a fighting fish for a long time supported the fact that it was an independent species.

According to the paper, it appears that samples of this species have been collected in earnest since 2007, and research has been conducted based on that collection. In addition to morphology and coloration, DNA analysis seems to have been the key to describing the new species. According to the paper, it appears that among the bettas obtained under the name Mahachai at Sunday markets, there were also a number of hybrids with Betta splendens. In fact, it can be easily crossed with the closely related splendens, and I have personally confirmed that hybrids are on sale.

This species is characterized by more than just its habitat. Its appearance is probably its most important feature. It is in the form of a caudal fin. In mature males, the soft ray at the center of the caudal fin becomes somewhat protruding. It can be easily distinguished from other closely related species not only by its protruding soft rays, but also by the fact that the soft rays on the entire caudal fin are curved slightly toward the center.

The body color shines in emerald green and somewhat resembles Betta Smaragdina. However, this species is slightly larger, and there are differences in the way the gill covers are colored. The color of the gill covers is an important point when identifying wild bettas in the Splendens group, including this species. There are currently five species of wild bettas in the Splendens group described: Splendens, Inbelis, Smaragdina, Styctus, and Mahachaiensis, but all species can be easily identified by looking at the color of the adult male's gill operculum. It is.

For Betta lovers, this species has been known for nearly 10 years, but it seems to have become popular again after being described as a new species, and has been introduced on TV in Thailand, and selling prices at the Sunday market. There is a phenomenon of rising. When it was introduced on TV, it was reported that the habitat of this species was being destroyed, hybrids were being created, and pure fish were on the verge of extinction, which was a greatly exaggerated report. Even people who normally have no interest in betta fish knew about this species, so television seems to have a considerable influence. It seems that incorrect information was reported, such as that this species was only discovered five years ago. Thai TV is more suitable than Japan, so I guess it's charming.

In fact, the habitat of this species is not an area rich in nature, but an area extremely close to human life. As a result, they are susceptible to the effects of habitat destruction, and it is a fact that their habitat and population numbers are decreasing. Now that many people are interested in this species, I would be happy if they could take some effort to prevent the deterioration of its habitat and maintain the current status of this species' habitat. Also, if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to obtain this species, please try to breed it and work hard to maintain the species.

As an aside, the month after this species was described, another new species of the Splendens group, the wild betta, was described by the same Thai scholars. This is Betta siamorientalis. It lives around Chachoengsao in Thailand, and its coloring is very similar to Splendens. I will introduce this Betta Siamese orientalis in this column if I have another chance.