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| Melanotaenia papuae - photo© Hristo Hristov |
Allen, 1981
Papuan Rainbowfish
Description
The overall body colouration is generally olive-green above the mid-lateral line and silvery white below. A prominent red spot is frequently present on the upper part of operculum. A pair of prominent black lines is present at the upper and lower edge of the lateral line and they continue down the lower half of the body. On the posterior half of the body the colours of these lines become reddish and/or purplish in males and yellow to pale orange in females. The colours and markings of the females are generally less brilliant than those of the males. Named Melanotaenia papuae after its type locality, Papua, the southern portion of Papua New Guinea.
Distribution
Found within a 35 km radius of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Habitat & Ecology
Melanotaenia papuae inhabit rainforest and coastal freshwater streams where they are often found together with Melanotaenia goldiei. Temperature and pH reported from these habitats were 25-29° Celsius and pH 7.3-7.8. Melanotaenia papuae may reach a maximum size of 8 cm, but usually less than 6 cm SL. Spawning females produce between 20-30 eggs each day for several days. Eggs adhere to fine-leaved plants or among the roots of floating vegetation. Hatching occurs in about 7 to 8 days at 25° Celsius.
Remarks
Melanotaenia papuae were one of the earlier New Guinea Rainbowfishes to be maintained in the aquarium hobby and were available in Australia as early as 1961. Gerald Allen collected additional live specimens in 1978. They were a very popular species but these days they seem to have been forgotten and are rarely seen in the aquarium hobby.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated May, 2007.
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