Lake Eacham rainbowfish
The Lake Eacham rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis) is a species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Melanotaeniidae which was thought to be endemic to Yidyam (Lake Eacham), Queensland, Australia but has proven to have a wider range.
| Lake Eacham rainbowfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A Lake Eacham rainbowfish in an aquarium | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Atheriniformes |
| Family: | Melanotaeniidae |
| Genus: | Melanotaenia |
| Species: | M. eachamensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanotaenia eachamensis G. R. Allen & N. J. Cross, 1982 | |
Conservation
The species was thought to be extinct due to predation from native fishes — including the Barred Grunter (Amniataba percoides) and Mouth Almighty (Glossamia aprion) — illegally translocated to Lake Eacham in the 1980s.[2] The species was rediscovered in the private collections of aquarists and has also been found to have a wider distribution in the Barron and Johnstone River systems.[2]
It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and on the EPBC Act 1999.
This species is found in small creeks and crater lakes, congregating along the shallow margins among aquatic vegetation, fallen logs or branches.[3]
References
- Unmack, P.; Brown, C. (2019). "Melanotaenia eachamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T13054A123378257. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T13054A123378257.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- Bray, Dianne; Gomon, Martin. "Lake Eacham Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia eachamensis". Fishes of Australia. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Melanotaenia eachamensis" in FishBase. April 2019 version.
- Allen, Gerald R.; & Cross, Norbert J. (1982). Rainbowfishes of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Angus & Robertson, Australia. ISBN 0-207-14604-7