|
 |
| Chilatherina bulolo - photo© Günther Schmida |
(Whitley, 1938)
Bulolo Rainbowfish
Description
Adults are an overall silvery colour with a black streak on the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin. It is very similar to Chilatherina crassispinosa, but has a wider head, blunter head, larger eye, and shorter first dorsal fin. It also tends to be more slender.
Distribution
Known only from a few scattered localities in the Markham and Ramu River systems of north-eastern Papua New Guinea. They have been collected from the Erap, Snake, Bulolo, and Whege River.
Habitat & Ecology
Chilatherina bulolo are found in foothill mountain streams with rapid flow and coarse gravel bottoms, in water temperatures between 24-28° Celsius and pH 7.5-8.5.
Body slender and laterally compressed but depth increasing with age. Males are usually much larger and deeper bodied than females. Two dorsal fins, very close together, the first much smaller than the second. Mature males have a higher first dorsal fin, which overlaps the origin of the second dorsal fin when depressed. Females have smaller rounded dorsal and anal fins. May reach a maximum size of 10 cm, but usually less than 8 cm SL. Essentially a carnivore, feeding on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects, insect larvae, and small aquatic crustaceans. Algae, plant pollens, and seeds are also ingested. Stomach contents of wild caught specimens indicated a diet of small insects, particularly ants, and algae that is grazed from rocks.
Remarks
Live specimens were collected in 1978 and transported to Australia, but failed to become established.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
|
|
