Betta Raja

Endemic to parts of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The type specimens were collected from a stream named Ayer Merah which is a tributary of the Danau Souak Padang, Jambi province, and it’s found throughout the lowland swamp forest formed by the Batang Hari River in Jambi.

B. raja has also been collected from various localities in Riau province (river Indragiri basin), northern Sumatra Selatan province and Sumatra Barat province, in the eastern regency of Sawahlunto Sijunjung. Populations from the different localities should ideally be labelled as such by collectors/enthusiasts in order to maintain accuracy and preserve pure bloodlines.