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| Glossolepis dorityi - photo© Gerald Allen |
Allen, 2000
Grime Rainbowfish
Description
Male generally greenish with silvery reflections on back, nape, and side of head; dull orange or bronze stripe between each scale row of upper half of body; red-orange stripe between each scale row of lower half of body, especially prominent during courtship activities; fins greenish to translucent, but with pinkish or red-orange hue on ventrals and basal half of anal and second dorsal. Female generally greenish with silvery reflections and lacking orange or red-orange stripes between scale rows. Males generally possess a deeper body and have elongated posterior rays on the dorsal and anal fins.
Distribution
Glossolepis dorityi is currently known only from the Grime (pronounced gree-may) River system of northern West Papua. The area, known by former Dutch administrators as the Nimboran Plain, was described and illustrated by Boeseman (1963), although no reference was made to the floodplain lakes.
Habitat & Ecology
The type locality consists of a small round lake (Lake Nenggwambu or Kali Biru Lake). There is a vigorously flowing outlet stream, but no apparent inlet, indicative of a subterranean connection with neighbouring lakes via the limestone substratum. Water was relatively clear and maximum depth was estimated to be at least 10-15 m. The lake is surrounded by secondary forest and aquatic plants were abundant, but relatively few species were evident. Fishes were most strongly congregated around the outlet, where vegetation was very dense. Glossolepis dorityi was the most abundant fish species and a second rainbowfish, Chilatherina fasciata was also common. May reach a maximum size of 10 cm, but usually less than 8 cm SL.
Remarks
This species is named dorityi in honour of Dan Dority for his efforts in collecting the type specimens. Dan Dority and David Price collected Glossolepis dorityi in April 2000. Heiko Bleher, a well-known aquarium fish collector visited the area in 1999 and 2000 and obtained breeding stock for the aquarium trade.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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