Siamese Fighting Fishes

The next position on the list of the most beautiful fishes in the world is the Siamese Fighting Fishes. The betta also referred to as the Siamese fighting fish, is a freshwater fish that is indigenous to Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Due to their widespread appeal as pets and their comparatively low maintenance requirements, Betta splendens are among the most widely kept aquarium fish in the world. There are 73 species in the genus Betta, but only one is given the name "betta".

They are indigenous to the Mekong basin, which includes Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, but are most frequently observed in Thailand's Chao Phraya river. This species is present in floodplains, rice paddies, and canals with standing water. Siamese fighting fish are known for their stunning, vivid colors and graceful fins. They come in a range of colors, including black, green, blue, red, orange, and yellow.

The longest of any fish, Siamese fighting fish are unique to the central plain of Thailand, where they have domesticated for the first time at least 1,000 years ago. They were originally bred for ferocity and used in cockfight-style gambling contests. Theodore Cantor, a Danish doctor, biologist, and botanist, is reported to have received some Bettas from King Rama III (1788–1851), who is credited with introducing them to the rest of the world.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Family: Osphronemidae