Species

A female Betta splendens

The currently described Betta species can be grouped into complexes for conservation purposes. (This grouping of species makes no claim at representing a phylogenetic reality.) The complexes of the associated species are:^{[1] [13] [14]}

• Akarensis complex:
  • Betta akarensis Regan, 1910 – Akar betta
  • Betta antoni Tan & Ng, 2006
  • Betta aurigans Tan & Ng, 2004
  • Betta balunga Herre, 1940
  • Betta chini Ng, 1993
  • Betta ibanorum Tan and Ng, 2004
  • Betta obscura Tan & Ng, 2005
  • Betta pinguis Tan and Kottelat, 1998

• Albimarginata complex:
  • Betta albimarginata Kottelat and Ng, 1994
  • Betta channoides Kottelat and Ng, 1994

• Anabatoides complex:
  • Betta anabatoides Bleeker, 1851 – giant betta
  • Betta midas Tan, 2009

• Bellica complex:
  • Betta bellica Sauvage, 1884 – slim betta
  • Betta simorum Tan and Ng, 1996

• Coccina complex:
  • Betta brownorum Witte and Schmidt, 1992
  • Betta burdigala Kottelat and Ng, 1994
  • Betta coccina Vierke, 1979
  • Betta livida Ng and Kottelat, 1992
  • Betta miniopinna Tan and Tan, 1994
  • Betta persephone Schaller, 1986
  • Betta rutilans Witte and Kottelat in Kottelat, 1991
  • Betta tussyae Schaller, 1985
  • Betta uberis Tan & Ng, 2006

• Dimidiata complex:
  • Betta dimidiata Roberts, 1989
  • Betta krataios Tan & Ng, 2006

• Edithae complex:
  • Betta edithae Vierke, 1984

• Foerschi complex:
  • Betta foerschi Vierke, 1979
  • Betta mandor Tan & Ng, 2006
  • Betta rubra Perugia, 1893 – Toba betta
  • Betta strohi Schaller and Kottelat, 1989

• Picta complex:
  • Betta falx Tan and Kottelat, 1998
  • Betta picta (Valenciennes, 1846) – spotted betta
  • Betta simplex Kottelat, 1994
  • Betta taeniata Regan, 1910 – Borneo betta

• Pugnax complex:
  • Betta apollon Schindler & Schmidt, 2006
  • Betta breviobesus Tan and Kottelat, 1998
  • Betta cracens Tan & Ng, 2005
  • Betta enisae Kottelat, 1995
  • Betta ferox Schindler & Schmidt, 2006
  • Betta fusca Regan, 1910 – dusky betta
  • Betta kuehnei Schindler & Schmidt, 2009
  • Betta lehi Tan & Ng, 2005
  • Betta pallida Schindler & Schmidt, 2004
  • Betta prima Kottelat, 1994
  • Betta pugnax (Cantor, 1849) – Penang betta
  • Betta pulchra Tan and Tan, 1996
  • Betta raja Tan & Ng, 2005
  • Betta schalleri Kottelat and Ng, 1994
  • Betta stigmosa Tan & Ng, 2005

• Splendens complex:
  • Betta imbellis Ladiges, 1975 – crescent betta
  • Betta smaragdina Ladiges, 1972 – emerald green betta
  • Betta splendens Regan, 1910 – Siamese fighting fish
  • Betta stiktos Tan & Ng, 2005

• Unimaculata complex:
  • Betta compuncta Tan & Ng, 2006
  • Betta gladiator Tan & Ng, 2005
  • Betta ideii Tan & Ng, 2006
  • Betta macrostoma Regan, 1910 – spotfin betta
  • Betta ocellata de Beaufort, 1933
  • Betta pallifina Tan & Ng, 2005
  • Betta patoti Weber and de Beaufort, 1922
  • Betta unimaculata (Popta, 1905) – Howong betta

• Waseri complex:
  • Betta chloropharynx Kottelat and Ng, 1994
  • Betta hipposideros Ng and Kottelat, 1994
  • Betta pardalotos Hui, 2009^[15]
  • Betta pi Tan, 1998
  • Betta renata Tan, 1998
  • Betta spilotogena Ng and Kottelat, 1994
  • Betta tomi Ng and Kottelat, 1994
  • Betta waseri Krummenacher, 1986

There are also several known populations without a valid species status, like Betta sp. machachai from the splendens complex. These may be described as valid species in the future.