Swamp Mimic

Betta tenebris

Swamp Mimic is a large freshwater ambush predator fish with adult males reaching 15 meters in length and a fin height of 25 meters, females only grow to about 6-7 meters in length. Unlike the colourful Betta splendens found in aquariums around the world, the Swamp Mimic male is usually black, brown, dark grey or dark green, females are always dark brown with green scales dotting their backs. Swamp Mimics hunt in relatively shallow swamps located in the southern regions of the island, although a small population is located around the islands center lake, they use their specially evolved front fins as legs to drag themselves across areas too shallow to effectively swim and can even drag themselves across dry land if their swamp dries up. While hunting males will extend their fins, which are highly sensitive to vibrations, out of the water which are shaped to perfectly mimic dead trees covered in lichens and other plant matter to attract the swamps many herbivores. Females hunt in a similar way, however they use their bodies to mimic floating logs with plants growing on them. Males are far more aggressive, especially during breeding season, during the month of July and August, the swamps usual sounds are interrupted by the constant splashing of males fighting for the rights to mate with the females of their area. Once mated, females will gather their eggs in one bubble nest and leave the alpha male to look after them.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Osphronemidae
Genus: Betta
Species: B. tenebris