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| Melanotaenia misoolensis - photo© Gerald Allen |
Allen, 1982
Misool Rainbowfish
In October 1948, a Dutchman by the name of Maurits Anne Lieftinck collected some rainbowfishes from a tributary of the Wai Tama River near Fakal Village on Misool Island. However, the collection remained unstudied in the Zoological Museum of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands until officially described by Gerald R. Allen in 1982. The species was named Melanotaenia misoolensis in reference to the type locality. Live specimens were collected for the aquarium hobby by Heiko Bleher in 2001.
Melanotaenia misoolensis is closely related to Melanotaenia catherinae, but differs with regards to colour pattern and by having a greater number of soft anal rays. Melanotaenia misoolensis usually has 22 to 25 rays compared with 19 to 21 rays for Melanotaenia catherinae. Adult males are bluish with a bronze or golden sheen, and silvery white on the lower half. The upper back and sides often reflect bronze or golden sheen 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 blotches. The fins are translucent to light yellow. Males grow to a length of around 6 cm and are usually deeper bodied than females.
Distribution & Habitat
Currently only known from Misool Island lying immediately west of the West Papuan mainland. Melanotaenia misoolensis was found in clear water streams with moderately fast-flowing through primary rainforest. Misool Island is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands. Its area is 2034 km². The other main islands in the archipelago are Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.
Allen, G.R. (1982). A new species of freshwater rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Misool Island, Indonesia. Records of the Western Australian Museum. 10(2): 105-109.
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| Melanotaenia misoolensis - photo© Christophe Mailliet |
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated February, 2008.
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