Distinguished from other species in the Betta splendens group by the combination of the following characters: opercle with two parallel iridescent green to bluish-green vertical bars; brown-to-black opercular membrane without red streaks or patches; dorsal, caudal, and anal fin rays brown to black contrasting with iridescent green or bluish-green interradial membranes; dorsal fin with at least its proximal two-thirds having transverse black bars; caudal fin without dark transverse bars, small black rounded marks flanking the internal rays on interradial membranes; pelvic fin brown to black with iridescent green/bluish-green front margin and white tip; an iridescent green to bluish-green appearance on the brown-to-black body background; head length 24.9-31.2% SL; postdorsal length 17.1-25.2% SL; length of dorsal fin base 12.2-19.3% SL; pelvic fin length 21.2-49.6%; pectoral fin length 15.4-21.3% SL; and orbit diameter 22.8-29.7% SL (Ref. 92085).