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| Pseudomugil novaeguineae - photo© Gerald Allen |
Weber, 1908
New Guinea Blue-eye
Description
The body colour is yellowish with a thin dark line on the sides while the scales are outlined with black. Specimens collected from the Fly River in New Guinea have been reported as having a transparent body with glistening bluish or violet colour on the head and abdomen. The eye has a faint gold ring around the pupil with the iris silvery or faintly blue. The second dorsal fin of males is either clear, as in females or carmine red.
Distribution
Pseudomugil novaeguineae has patchy distribution in central southern New Guinea between the Fly River, Papua New Guinea and Etna Bay, West Papua. Also known from the Aru Islands.
Habitat & Ecology
Pseudomugil novaeguineae inhabitats small clear rainforest streams; well shaded but with occasional open patches exposed to sunlight. A temperature of 24° Celsius and pH 7.8 were recorded at one collection site in a tributary of the Ok Smak River, about 35 kilometres north of Kiunga. Kiunga ballochi sometimes occurs in the same streams. Body moderately compressed and elongated, maximum size about 35 mm SL. Two dorsal fins, very close together, the first much smaller than the second. Males have elongated anterior first, second dorsal and anal fin rays. Spawning usually occurs from October to December. Eggs adhere to water plants and hatching occurs around 9-12 days depending on temperature.
Remarks
Around 1976 some live specimens were collected and sent to Germany. Since then there has been a number of live collections but still the species is not widely available in the aquarium hobby.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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