Banded rainbowfish | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Atheriniformes |
Family: | Melanotaeniidae |
Genus: | Melanotaenia |
Species: | M. trifasciata |
Binomial name | |
Melanotaenia trifasciata | |
The banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata), also known as the Jewel rainbowfish,Goyder River rainbowfish,three-striped sunfish or regal rainbowfish, is a species of rainbowfish found in the northerly regions of North Australia and Queensland. [2] [3] An adult banded rainbowfish can reach a standard length of 12-15 cm with a deep body usually exceeding 1/3 of their body length. Like most other rainbowfish, this species varies in color depending on where they were collected, but all varieties have a distinct dark mid-lateral band and bright red/yellow dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. [2]
The banded rainbowfish is an active shoaling fish, that typically occurs on the surface and in mid-level areas of fresh water environments.
As seasonal spawners, the banded rainbowfish breeds intermittently throughout the year. Males compete with one another for territory and female attention in contests where they compare body coloration and size by swimming side by side whilst extending their fins to appear larger.
After mating, a typical female can produce between 200-500 eggs, which it affixes to vegetation using adhesive threads. After this, the female will leave, while the male will continue to guard their territory and by extension the eggs until they hatch 6–7 days later. [2]
The banded rainbowfish lives in a wide variety of habitats, such as rivers, lagoons and slow moving streams. It prefers areas with strong water flow, sandy substrate, dense sub-surface vegetation and submerged logs and branches. [2]
Banded rainbow fish are opportunistic omnivores, the bulk of their diet being arthropods such as aquatic insects, arachnids and crustaceans as well as algae and terrestrial insects that have drowned on the water surface such as green ants. [2]
The name Melanotaenia trifasciata was proposed by Hialmar Rendahl in 1922 while describing the species. The specific epithet trifasciata means "three-banded", although live individuals do not typically have more than a single band. This discrepancy is due to the original museum specimen described by Rendahl having had its pattern altered by being preserved in spirits. [2]
Rainbowfish are relatively new to the aquarium hobby, and were up until recently kept by only a small group of hobbyists. They have since seen a significant rise in popularity owing to their generally colorful patterns, energetic behavior and ease of care. [4] The banded rainbowfish itself is exemplary of these traits; a hardy and peaceful shoaling fish, they make easy editions to most peaceful community aquariums and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters. Like many other rainbowfish, this species should be kept in an aquarium with a lid as they are capable of jumping out. [5]
Rainbowfishes are small, colourful freshwater fishes belonging to the family Melanotaeniidae, found in northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, Sulawesi and Madagascar.
The emerald catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae native to the Amazon Basin in South America. It has traditionally been known as Brochis splendens. The fish has appeared on a stamp in Brazil.
The red-bellied piranha, also known as the red piranha, is a type of piranha native to South America, found in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo basins, as well as coastal rivers of northeastern Brazil. This fish is locally abundant in its freshwater habitat. They are omnivorous foragers and feed on insects, worms, crustaceans, and fish. They are not a migratory species but do travel to seek out conditions conducive to breeding and spawning during periods of increased rainfall. Red-bellied piranhas often travel in shoals as a predatory defense but rarely exhibit group hunting behavior. Acoustic communication is common and is sometimes exhibited along with aggressive behaviors. They are a popular aquarium fish.
Corydoras julii is a small freshwater catfish native to eastern Brazil. It is often confused with Corydoras trilineatus, the three stripe corydoras. Corydoras julii are small, peaceful shoaling fish, and are typically kept in groups in captivity.
The banded killifish is a North American species of temperate freshwater killifish belonging to the genus Fundulus of the family Fundulidae. Its natural geographic range extends from Newfoundland to South Carolina, and west to Minnesota, including the Great Lakes drainages. This species is the only freshwater killifish found in the northeastern United States. While it is primarily a freshwater species, it can occasionally be found in brackish water.
Axelrod's rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Melanotaeniinae. It is found in Papua New Guinea in the Yungkiri stream in the north western part of that nation. Typically its preferred habitat is a narrow stream with gentle moving, cloudy water surrounded by lush rainforest.
Melanotaenia is a genus of rainbowfish from Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and nearby smaller islands.
Boeseman's rainbowfish, also known as the Boesemani rainbowfish, is a species of fish in the family Melanotaeniidae.
The dwarf rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Melanotaeniinae. It is known under a number of common names including diamond rainbowfish, neon rainbowfish, Praecox rainbowfish, dwarf neon rainbowfish, peacock rainbowfish, and Teczanka neonowa. It is endemic to the Mamberamo River basin in West Papua in Indonesia and common in the aquarium trade.
The pygmy rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Melanotaeniinae. It is endemic to Australia.
The honey blue-eye is an endangered species of fish in the subfamily Pseudomugilinae. It is endemic to southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it is found in mildly acidic, often tannin-stained, ponds and streams in wallum habitat.
The Celebes rainbowfish is a species of sailfin silverside endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is the only known member of its genus.
The rainbow shark is a species of Southeast Asian freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae. It is also known as the ruby shark, red-fin shark, red-finned shark, rainbow sharkminnow, green fringelip labeo, whitefin shark and whitetail sharkminnow. It is a popular, semi-aggressive aquarium fish. Unlike true sharks, which belong to the Chondrichthyes lineage, the rainbow shark is an actinopterygiian.
The Murray River rainbowfish, known less commonly as the Australian rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater fish endemic to southeastern Australia. The southernmost species of all rainbowfishes, these fish are very colourful, hence the name; and there is sexual dimorphism with the males being larger and more colourful than females. Murray River rainbowfish are schooling fish and will congregate near logs or riverbanks, and are a popular aquarium fish.
Melanotaenia affinis, the North New Guinea rainbowfish, New Guinea rainbowfish, or red-finned rainbowfish, is a species of rainbowfish endemic to New Guinea. It grows to 11.5 cm (4.5 in) standard length. Of the three known varieties, the so-called standard variety has the widest range. It is commonly found in the Markham, Ramu, and Sepik Rivers; their preferred habitat includes clear rainforest streams, swamps, pools, and lagoons abundant in vegetation and submerged logs.
Melanotaenia duboulayi, the crimson-spotted rainbowfish, less commonly known as the Duboulay's rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater fish endemic to coastal eastern Australia, although M. duboulayi has also been kept as an aquarium fish since the early 20th century, and is the original "Australian rainbowfish".
The ornate rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish endemic to an area in eastern Australia, where it is native to coastal regions and sandy offshore islands in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is the only known member of its genus. It is a popular aquarium fish.
Melanotaeniinae the Australian rainbowfishes is a subfamily of the rainbowfishes of the family Melanotaeniidae. They are a group of small, colourful, freshwater fish found in northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, islands in Cenderawasih Bay the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia and in Madagascar.
Melanotaenia splendida, the Eastern rainbowfish, is a species of rainbowfish from the subfamily Melanotaeniinae which is found in Australia.
Corydoras imitator is a small species of tropical freshwater armoured catfish native to the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the Dutch icthyologists Han Nijssen and Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker in 1983, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade.