Clownface Betta

Betta Cracens

Status: Critically Endangered. There are many different species of betta fish in Indonesia that are Endangered. Betta burdigala can be found in peat swamps, and they are endangered because of development projects destroying their habitat. Pollution from runoff into the waterways also contaminates their environment. There is over-exploitation of many betta species for the aquarium trade because their beautiful colors are highly sought by enthusiasts to brighten tanks.

In Sumatra, there is a lake in the caldera of a volcano called Lake Toba. It is the largest volcanic lake in the world, clear waters surrounded by ragged peaks. There is a legend of a time before Lake Toba: a farmer lived in the shadow of a mountain in that region. From the streams, he would fish. One morning he caught an enormous fish, and when he pulled his catch ashore, it was transformed into a beautiful maiden. She agreed to marry the farmer, on the condition that he never reveal to anyone her origins.

They lived happily together for a while, and had a son. One day, the father quarreled with his son, and in a hot-headed moment, he cried out an insult, saying to his son that he was "the son of a fish!" The fish maiden wife heard this and was saddened that the farmer had broken his promise. The earth trembled, and the nearby mountain exploded in a volcanic eruption. Flood, storm, and calamity ensued, and as the region filled with water, Lake Toba was formed.

The maiden is called Dragon Queen by the people who live on the shores of Lake Toba. She is the keeper of the lake. They say when she is vexed, she unleashes storms and the waters of Lake Toba tremble with her displeasure. The island of Samosir that sits in the lake is said to be her son. In Indonesian mythology, dragons are often seen as benevolent guardians of the natural and spiritual realms.

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