| Melanotaenia splendida | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Atheriniformes |
| Family: | Melanotaeniidae |
| Genus: | Melanotaenia |
| Species: | M. splendida |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanotaenia splendida (W. K. H. Peters, 1866) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Melanotaenia splendida, the Eastern rainbowfish, is a species of rainbowfish from the subfamily Melanotaeniinae which is found in Australia.
Melanotaenia splendida is highly variable and although three subspecies have been recognised these have been found to show a wide variety of morphology within each subspecies. These differences are obvious in colouration and in the depth of the body. [2]
The three commonly recognised subspecies are: [3]
The chequered rainbowfish is found in northern Australia from the Mary River east to the Cape York Peninsula and south to the Jardine River, it is also found on some of the Torres Strait Islands. [4] The eastern rainbowfish occurs in rivers east of the Great Dividing Range from the Torres Strait Islands and the Cape York Peninsula south to the Dawson River in Queensland. [5] the desert rainbowfish is endemic to the drainage basin of Lake Eyre. [6]
Melanotaenia splendida are normally found close to the surface of the deeper pools in small freshwater streams, they also occur in lakes and reservoirs. These fishes are frequently recorded in large schools and these can be found in water varying from clear to turbid and which may or may not have extensive vegetation. M. splendida is an omnivore which feeds on filamentous algae, aquatic and terrestrial insects, small crustaceans and other small invertebrates. Like other rainbowfish, this species shows sexual dimorphism. Breeding takes place year round and the male and female fish form pairs in which the females releases the eggs and the male fertilises them. 60-70 eggs are laid at each spawning and the golden coloured, round eggs attach to submerged vegetation with an adhesive filament. The larvae hatch after around a week and are around 4mm long and they have a reduced yolk sac and fully formed mouth and pectoral fins. The larvae start to feed after 24 hours. [5]
The threadfin rainbowfish or featherfin rainbowfish is a rainbowfish, the only species in the genus Iriatherina. It is characterized by long beautiful fins, and is among the most attractive of the rainbowfishes.
Rainbowfishes are small, colourful freshwater fishes belonging to the family Melanotaeniidae, found in northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, Sulawesi and Madagascar.
The western pygmy perch is a species of temperate perch endemic to southwestern Australia.
The Cairns rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish endemic to Australia. This species is endemic to the wet tropics of north eastern Queensland from the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation in the north south to Innisfail where its occurs in shallow, fast flowing, shady streams over sandy substrates where the roots of trees, woody debris, leaf litter, undercut banks and hydrophytes provide cover.
Melanotaenia is a genus of rainbowfish from Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and nearby smaller islands.
The Lake Eacham rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Melanotaeniidae which was thought to be endemic to Yidyam, Queensland, Australia but has proven to have a wider range.
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.
Melanotaenia splendida splendida, also known as the eastern rainbowfish, is a subspecies of fish in the family Melanotaeniidae endemic to Australia.
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.
The black-banded rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish belonging to the subfamily Melanotaeniidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Importantly, the species is the type species of the genus Melanotaenia.
The neon blue-eye or blueback blue-eye, is a species of fish in the subfamily Pseudomugilinae. It is found in northern Australia, in the Gulf Country, the Kimberley and around Darwin. First described in 1983, they have become established in the aquarium trade worldwide.
Melanotaenia australis, the western rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater rainbowfish endemic to Australia's Kimberley and Pilbara, Top End. The western rainbowfish is one of the most common and highly abundant freshwater fish endemic to north-western Australia; It ranges from the Ashburton River in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to the Adelaide river in the Northern Territory. It shows extensive geographic variation in their color pattern.
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.
The Daintree rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish endemic to Australia. This species is endemic to the wet tropics of north eastern Queensland where it has been recorded from the Cooper Creek and nearby Hutchinson Creek systems of the Daintree region of north-eastern Queensland. It was discovered as an isolated population in the Daintree rainforest and was originally thought to be the Cairns rainbowfish but it was defined as its own species in 2018.
The banded rainbowfish, 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. 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.