A new species of Betta from the B. waseri group is described based on museum material, and is very likely near extinction in the wild. It is most similar to B. hipposideros but differs from it in having a different throat pattern in which the black markings on the lower jaw are continuous with two black downward curved bars on the anterior throat, ending with rounded expanded tips near the edge of lower jaw (vs. downward slender black bars); it further differs in the opercle being uniform brown with light dark brown mottling; in having black transverse bars on the dorsal and caudal fin interradial membranes; and in the absence of a dark distal border on anal fin.