{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 14 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Low, B.W. |date=2019 |title=''Betta chini'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T2781A91307844 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T2781A91307844.en |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Betta chini | authority = [[Peter Kee Lin Ng|P. K. L. Ng]], 1993 }}
'''''Betta chini''''' is a [[species]] of [[gourami]] [[Endemism|endemic]] to the island [[Borneo]] where it is only known from the [[Malaysia]]n state of [[Sabah]]. It inhabits very shallow waters (less than {{convert|0.5|m|ft}}) of [[peat swamp]]s. Males of this species can reach a length of {{convert|5.1|cm|in}} [[fish measurement|SL]] while females can reach a length of {{convert|5.6|cm|in}}.<ref>{{FishBase |genus= Betta|species= chini| month = February | year = 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=B-Aqua - Betta chini |url=https://www.b-aqua.com/pages/Fiche.aspx?Id=677 |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.b-aqua.com}}</ref>
==Etymology== The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] of this fish honours the [[Malaysian people|Malaysian]] [[ichthyologist]] Datuk [[Chin Phui Kong]] (1923-ca. 2016).<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = http://www.etyfish.org/anabantiformes/ | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | date = 21 October 2019 | title= Order ANABANTIFORMES: Families ANABANTIDAE, HELOSTOMATIDAE, OSPHRONEMIDAE, CHANNIDAE, NANDIDAE, BADIDAE, and PRISTOLEPIDIDAE | access-date = 15 December 2019 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>
== Habitat and distribution == ''Betta chini'' occurs in peat swamp forests near [[Beaufort, Malaysia|Beaufort]], [[Sabah]], [[Malaysia]], as well as in the hill habitat near Babagon Dam and [[Penampang]].<ref name=":0" />
== Diet == It is probable that ''Betta chini'' has a diet typical of [[Betta|its genus]], consisting of small, aquatic invertebrates.<ref name=":0" />
== Threats == Large-scale conversion of [[Peat swamp forest|peat swamp forests]] to [[Wood industry|industrial forests]] and [[monoculture]] plantations poses a threat to this species. In the [[Beaufort, Malaysia|Beaufort]] area (in Sabah), the species was collected from heavily disturbed and exploited peat marshes. The current state of health of the population in this degraded habitat is uncertain. This species is also threatened by [[Borneo peat swamp forests#Fires|fires in Sabah]], which have already destroyed its habitat. ''Betta chini'' is of [[Endangered species|Endangered]] status according to the [[IUCN]] [[IUCN Red List|Red List]].<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q308557}}
[[Category:Betta|chini]] [[Category:Endemic fauna of Malaysia]] [[Category:Freshwater fish of East Malaysia]] [[Category:Taxa named by Peter Kee Lin Ng]] [[Category:Fish described in 1993]] [[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]
{{Anabantiformes-stub}}