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| Melanotaenia pygmaea - photo© Günther Schmida |
Allen, 1978
Pygmy Rainbowfish
Description
Males display a brilliant colouration consisting of a metallic sky-blue back, a blackish mid-lateral stripe, and pale yellow fins. Males are more brightly coloured, larger, and much deeper bodied than females. Spawning males' display a yellowish body colour below the lateral line and a brightly coloured rustic-red band running from the first dorsal fin to the upper lip and extending down the breast.
Distribution
Discovered by Gerald Allen in 1974 and so far only known from two tributaries of the Prince Regent River, situated in the Kimberley Basin, about 200 kilometres north of the town of Broome, in northern Western Australia.
Habitat & Ecology
Melanotaenia pygmaea are known only from two small tributaries of the Prince Regent River; Cascade Creek and Youwanjela Creek. Most collections have been from Cascade Creek, situated approximately 20 km upstream. The Prince Regent River has nine major tributaries originating 11 to 32 km from their junctions with the river. The upper reaches of the river and creeks are mostly seasonal, with some permanent pools varying in depth up to several metres during the dry season. They are usually found around sub-surface vegetation, submerged logs, or branches. Melanotaenia pygmaea may reach a maximum size of 7 cm, but usually less than 5 cm SL. Spawning occurs from September to December before the onset of the wet season (December-March). Juvenile fish grow quickly and reach maturity in the year following hatching. Females in good condition will spawn 10-20 eggs each day for several days. Eggs adhere to water plants and hatching occurs around 7-8 days at a temperature range of 25 to 30° Celsius.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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