ORG.one project - Betta hipposideros: Pioneering Genome Assembly of Malaysia's Endangered Peat Swamp Fighter Fish (Betta hipposideros): A Conservation Genomics Approach
Rapid sequencing of the critically endangered Betta hipposideros as part of the ORG.one project https://org.one/oo. Betta hipposideros is a small endangered freshwater fish endemic to Malaysia's North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) and Riau province's Indragiri River drainage in Sumatra, Indonesia. As an obligate peat swamp inhabitant, this species possesses unique adaptations for survival in highly acidic and hypoxic waters. At approximately 4-5 cm in length, B. hipposideros has developed specialised physiological mechanisms to thrive in oxygen-depleted, tannin-rich peat swamp environments. This project presents the first genome sequencing of B. hipposideros using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' PromethION 2 Solo platform for long-read sequencing. The genome was sequenced from DNA extracted from ocular tissue of a wild-caught specimen. This genomic resource will provide crucial insights into the species' evolutionary adaptations to acidic, hypoxic peat swamp environments and support conservation efforts for this threatened species. The genome data will enable comparative genomic analyses with other Betta species (non-obligate peat swamp inhabitants) and facilitate the development of conservation strategies. This work marks a significant advance in understanding the genetic basis of adaptation in acidic-water fish species and will contribute to the preservation of Malaysia's unique aquatic biodiversity.