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| Pseudomugil paskai - photo© Neil Armstrong |
Allen and Ivantsoff, 1986
Paska's Blue-eye
Description
Males have a body colour that is bluish ventrally and yellow above the mid-lateral line. The fins are generally translucent with white or yellow margins and scattered oval black spots. Lobes of the caudal fin have either white, yellow or reddish tips. Pelvic fins are yellowish and elongated. Females do not have spots on their fins and do not show the colours of the males.
Distribution
First discovered by David Balloch and Gerald Allen in 1983, they are very similar to Pseudomugil gertrudae, but differ in colouration and fin shape. Known only from a few locations between Etna Bay and Kiunga in the upper Fly River system, Papua New Guinea. It probably occurs widely in forested lowlands areas between these two locations.
Habitat & Ecology
A stream dwelling species occupying slow-flowing muddy or tea-coloured rainforest streams. Aquatic vegetation is generally abundant. The pH and temperature ranges recorded at the collection site were 6.0-6.5 and 25-26° Celsius. Found together with Melanotaenia sexlineata. Body moderately compressed and elongated, maximum size around 35 mm SL. Two dorsal fins, very close together, the first much smaller than the second. Spawning usually occurs from October to December. Males' display with their dorsal and anal fins raised while actively pursuing a female. During this spawning procedure the colour of the fins intensifies and the spots becoming very dark. Spawning often continues throughout the day, with each female releasing up to 10 or 12 eggs. The eggs are transparent and are relatively large (1 mm), and depending on water temperature, will hatch in 9 to 11 days.
Remarks
Live specimens collected in 1983 were returned to Australia, but failed to become established in the hobby. However, other live collections have been made and small populations are now established in North America and Europe. However, as far as I know Pseudomugil paskai have not been established in Australia.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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