06/19/2026
Researchers present a morphological revision of the thirteen wild ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ species found in Thailand. Split into two groups, mouth-brooders (๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ, ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฅ, and ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ), and bubble-nesters (๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐ต. ๐๐โ๐๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ , ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ , ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, and ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ), specimens were collected as close to the type locality as reported in the original species description. A dichotomous key for species identification based on individual species distinguishing characteristics is provided.
"Based on morphological descriptions, revealed documents, and statistical a**lyses, the diagnostic characteristics were considered to generate a dichotomous key for the 13 wild fighting fish species, with characteristics illustrated with accompanying explanations for better understanding. This identification key refers to the traits selection approach, which uses certain differences in morphometric and meristic characteristics to classify the fighting fishes into subgroups and uses the appearance of melanophore pigmentation in various locations on the head, body and fins to identify them at the species level. In addition to previous studies, we also attempted to select for the persistence of traits in specimens exhibiting various conditions, particularly immaturity, s*x, and preserved conditions. Additionally, live specimen coloration was also mentioned as an alternative option for the identification key. This study also used additional traits to classify the fighting fish species, such as the connection of the posterior part of central and ventral stripes, the termination line of the ventral stripe, and scattered spots along the caudal fin membrane. Finally, we hope that this study will be beneficial for taxonomy. Accurate species identification enhances breeding conservation and contributing resource management that minimizes wild catches."
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ง๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ
Morphological Revision of Thirteen Wild Fighting Fish Species Found in Thailand with an Identification Key
Open-access - https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/18/6/334
๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Poungcharean, S., Wudtisin, I., Sirisuay, S., Pichitkul, P., & Janekitkarn, S. (2026). Morphological Revision of Thirteen Wild Fighting Fish Species Found in Thailand with an Identification Key. Diversity, 18(6), 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060334
๐๐ฏ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
Morphological descriptions of 13 wild fighting fish species were revised by examining specimens collected as near as possible to the type specimen localities.
The description has been revised for certainty and consistency. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and KruskalโWallis with Dunnโs post hoc tests were a**lyzed and revealed previously described morphological characteristics were evaluated for distinguishing features.
The PCA showed that the high loading factor of the principal component 1 (PC1) indicated that head length (0.221) was beneficial for the fish species identification. The KruskalโWallis test indicated the significant differences in morphometric characteristics among the fish species (p < 0.05). Then the significant differences in Dunnโs post hoc test (p < 0.001) in head length distinguished the mouth-brooders (i.e., ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ, ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฅ, and ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ) from bubble-nesters (i.e., ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐ต. ๐๐โ๐๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ , ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ , ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, and ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ) with a head length range of 29.27โ36.42 vs. 24.14โ28.31% of standard length, including the symmetrical caudal fin.
Some characteristics distinguish the fish into subgroups and some species, such as a greater number of a**l soft fin rays and lateral line scales of ๐ต. ๐๐ among the mouth-brooding species (28โ29 vs. 22โ26 fin rays and 33โ35 vs. 26โ32 scales) or of ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ among the bubble-nesting species (26โ28 vs. 22โ25 fin rays and 31โ33 vs. 27โ30 scales).
Additionally, descriptive characteristics such as a**l and caudal fin shape and melanophore pigmentation on the head, body, and fins, including the coloration of live specimens, are useful for distinguish among species and generating a dichotomous identification key.
๐ฃ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐
Top left - Appearances and colouration of live mature specimens of eight wild bubble-nesting fighting fishes, i.e., and five wild bubble-nesting fighting fishes, i.e., ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( a ), ๐ต. ๐๐โ๐๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ( b ), ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ( c ), ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( d ), and ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( e ).
Top right - Appearances and colouration of live mature specimens of eight wild mouth-brooding fighting fishes, i.e., ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( a ), ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ( b ), ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐ ( c ), ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( d ), ๐ต. ๐๐ ( e ), ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐ ( f ), ๐ต. ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฅ ( g ), and ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ( h ).
Bottom - ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( a ); ๐ต. ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ( b ); ๐ต. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ( c ).
ยฉ 2026 the Author(s). Published in the journal Diversity. An open-access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) deed. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
