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| Melanotaenia maylandi - photo© Gerald Allen |
Allen, 1982
Mayland's Rainbowfish
Description
Adult males are generally olive green or brownish dorsally and silvery white on the lower half. The upper back and sides often reflect bluish or mauve hues and there is a series of narrow oranges lines on the sides between each horizontal row of scales. There is also a diffused midlateral band extending from the upper corner of the opercula margin to the middle of the caudal fin base, often consisting of large blotches. The fins are translucent to light blue-grey except for a yellow anal fin.
Distribution
So far only collected from a small creek about 2 km upstream from Danau Bira (Lake Holmes) in the lower Mamberamo system of West Papua.
Habitat & Ecology
Melanotaenia maylandi was found in dense, closed-canopy rainforest streams. May reach a maximum size of 12 cm, but usually less than 10 cm. Males are more brightly coloured, larger, and deeper bodied than females.
Remarks
This species was discovered by Heiko Bleher and Gerald Allen during a visit to Irian Jaya in 1982. The species is named in honour of Hans Mayland, well-known German writer, photographer, and aquarist. No live specimens have been collected for the aquarium hobby.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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