CR

Betta cracens

Unknown

Overview

Betta cracens is a species of gourami endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is an inhabitant of freshwater swamp forest. This species grows to a length of 5.7 cm (2.2 in), typically inhabits blackwaters that have very soft and very acidic water and is a bubble nest brooder.

The Latin term cracens means "slender" or "elegant" and is so named because of the fish's slender body. It was first described in 1996 by Heok Hui Tan and Peter K. L.

Ng in The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.

Betta cracens faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in its native peat swamp forests of Peninsular Malaysia. Water pollution from palm oil plantations and urban development has degraded the acidic, tannin-rich waters this species requires for survival. The extremely limited range makes the entire population vulnerable to single catastrophic events, while collection for the ornamental fish trade adds additional pressure on wild populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

Betta cracens inhabits shallow, slow-moving acidic waters in peat swamp forests of Peninsular Malaysia. These specialized environments feature soft, tannin-stained water with dense vegetation and fallen logs that provide essential cover and breeding sites.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical swamp· majorWetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communications

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Betta cracens classified as Critically Endangered?
Betta cracens is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Betta cracens faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in its native peat swamp forests of Peninsular Malaysia. Water pollution from palm oil plantations and urban development has degraded the acidic, tannin-rich waters this species requires for survival. The extremely limited range makes the entire population vulnerable to single catastrophic events, while collection for the ornamental fish trade adds additional pressure on wild populations.
Where does Betta cracens live?
Betta cracens occurs in Indonesia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Betta cracens?
The main threats to Betta cracens are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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