Forest Betta (Betta pugnax)

Forest Betta (Betta pugnax)

A small Forest Betta found by the side of a shallow forest stream.

Family: Osphronemidae

Species Name: Betta pugnax
Common Name: Forest Betta, Penang Betta, Malayan Forest Betta
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Forest streams, rural ponds and catchments.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (Red Data Book 3)

While the popular fighting fish (Betta splendens) isn't native to Singapore, a few of its cousins are and the most common is the Forest Betta. It is adaptable and lives in a variety of freshwater habitats from flowing forest streams to stagnant ponds, where it feeds on small invertebrates. Its ability to breathe air like all anabantoids helps greatly with its adaptability. Mature individuals display a beautiful blue and have the ability to show a few lateral lines depending on its mood, usually when being stressed or territorial. Growing up to a max of 10cm, large-sized individuals are robustly built as seen in the photograph below. Unlike its popular cousin, the Forest Betta is a mouth-brooder where the male protects its eggs and fry in its mouth. 

A nearly full-grown Forest Betta resting on a sunken branch. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.

Forest Snakehead (Channa lucius)

Forest Snakehead (Channa lucius)

A mid-sized Forest Snakehead found resting at the bottom of a stream by the forest edge. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

Family: Channidae

Species Name: Channa lucius
Common Name: Forest Snakehead
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Forest streams and catchments.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable (Red Data Book 3)

A large and attractive species easily recognizable by the rows of black spots along the sides of its body. It also has yellow dots scattered across its fins. This uncommon species grows to a max length of 40cm, with large adults inhabiting the flanks of catchments and smaller individuals being found more in swamp forest streams. Like all snakeheads, they are predatory and feed on a variety of smaller animals via ambush. It can also breathe air, allowing it to survive short durations outside of water which it uses to help seek out new water bodies if its previous one dried up.

A small Forest Snakehead swimming out from under a leaf.

References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.

Common Snakehead (Channa Striata)

Common Snakehead (Channa striata)

A large Common Snakehead in a forest stream at Windsor Nature Park. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

Family: Channidae

Species Name: Channa striata
Common Name: Common Snakehead, Haruan
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Freshwater streams, ponds and reservoirs.
Conservation Status: Least Concern (Red Data Book 3)

A large and very common species that can grow up to a meter long. This highly adaptable species is found throughout Singapore in various freshwater habitats ranging from canals to forest streams. Like all snakeheads, it is able to breathe air and can travel short distances on land by undulating its body to seek out new water bodies. Mated pairs of snakeheads will guard their fry ferociously, which school around the parents. This highly predatory fish feeds on anything smaller than it, ambushing prey such as other fishes, amphibians and invertebrates, but will definitely try for other animals if given the opportunity.  

A juvenile Common Snakehead found in a water-logged road. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.

Pygmy Rasbora (Boraras maculatus)

Pygmy Rasbora (Boraras maculatus)

One out of several Pygmy Rasboras found at the end of a small and shallow freshwater stream.

Family: Danionidae

Species Name: Boraras maculatus
Common Name: Pygmy Rasbora, Malayan Pygmy Rasbora, Dwarf Rasbora
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Freshwater forest streams
Conservation Status: Endangered (Red Data Book 3)

A popular nano rasbora in the aquarium trade alongside the Mosquito Rasbora (Boraras brigittae). This is the only native species under the genus Boraras in Singapore and is also one of our smallest freshwater fishes as it reaches a max length of 2.5cm. It inhabits shallow, vegetated and acidic freshwater streams (typical of freshwater swamp forests) where it seeks shelter among the botanicals and plant present. It is relatively rare in Singapore compared to the other native rasboras. It feeds on tiny invertebrates in the water column and substrate. 

Dorsal view of a Pygmy Rasbora found in the same habitat as the first figure.

References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.

Einthoven's Rasbora (Rasbora einthovenii)

Einthoven's Rasbora (Rasbora einthovenii)

Two out of several Einthoven's Rasbora found in a forest stream. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

Family: Danionidae

Species Name: Rasbora einthovenii
Common Name: Einthoven's Rasbora, Brilliant Rasbora
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Freshwater forest streams
Conservation Status: Vulnerable (Red Data Book 3)

The Einthoven's Rasbora might be the most encountered native rasbora in Singapore alongside the Harlequin Rasbora. This small and streamlined fish is widespread throughout the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, where it resides in forest streams but can also be found in small, stagnant catchments. This fish can be seen foraging for food usually in the mid-water or sediment for small invertebrates. Growing to a max of 9cm, it averages out half that size seen with most wild encounters. While the black, lateral line is a distinguishing feature of this species, it might look similar to the introduced Red-tailed Rasbora (Rasbora boraptensis). The golden-pink body and lack of a red tail for the Einthoven's Rasbora helps to solve the confusion.

Dorsal view of the Einthoven's Rasbora displaying the golden-pink colouration of the body. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.

Dwarf Snakehead (Channa limbata)

Dwarf Snakehead (Channa limbata)

A lone Dwarf Snakehead found in a shallow forest stream. Note the orange and blue stripes on the pectoral fins. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong)

Family: Channidae

Species Name: Channa limbata
Common Name: Dwarf Snakehead
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Freshwater forest streams
Conservation Status: Endangered (Red Data Book 3)

Our smallest and arguably most colourful snakehead species. While it can grow up to 20cm, it is usually seen at half that size or less in our forest streams where it moves slowly to ambush smaller fish and invertebrates. Like all snakeheads, the Dwarf Snakehead has the ability to breathe air and needs to gulp air from the surface occasionally. This ability allows them to traverse short distances over land in an event their home dries up. In Singapore, it is found in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, where it is quite restricted to the Nee Soon Swamp Forest and its surroundings. 



References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.

Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)

Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha)

One out of several Harlequin Rasboras found in a forest stream.

Family: Danionidae
Species name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Common name: Harlequin Rasbora
Presence in Singapore: Native 
Habitat: Freshwater forest streams
Conservation status: Endangered (Red Data Book 3)

The Harlequin Rasbora is a popular fish in the aquarium trade recognizable by the black triangular spot that covers a chunk of its pinkish orange body. This fish is relatively widespread throughout the Central Catchment Nature Reserve where it resides in forest streams alongside other fishes such as the Forest Halfbeak. Averaging out at 3 to 4cm, this small fish seeks safety in numbers and small schools of them can be seen foraging for small invertebrates and other organics in the water column.



References

• Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.