Eastern rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida splendida, also known as the eastern rainbowfish, is a subspecies of fish in the family Melanotaeniidae endemic to Australia.[1]
| Eastern rainbowfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male eastern rainbowfish | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Atheriniformes |
| Family: | Melanotaeniidae |
| Genus: | Melanotaenia |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | M. s. splendida |
| Trinomial name | |
| Melanotaenia splendida splendida W. K. H. Peters 1866 | |
The Eastern rainbowfish is widespread on the mainland, and is found in river systems east of the Great Dividing Range of Queensland, Australia, from the Boyne River south of Gladstone to Cape York Peninsula. It is usually found in large schools inhabiting small freshwater streams, but is also found in lakes and reservoirs.[2] It is kept as a tropical aquarium fish.
Description and diet
It is a small fish commonly found up to 8 cm but known to reach up to 14 cm.
Males are highly variable in colour from pale bluish-green or greenish-brown overall to yellowish and paler below, with a yellow or orange spot on the gill cover.[2] Females and juveniles are silvery with translucent or faintly coloured fins.
The Eastern rainbowfish is an omnivore and feeds on algae, insects, microcrustaceans and other small invertebrates.[2]
References
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2015). splendida"Melanotaenia splendida splendida" in FishBase. February 2015 version.
- Gomon, M.; Bray, D. (2014). "Eastern Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida". Fishes of Australia.
Media related to Melanotaenia splendida at Wikimedia Commons