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| Pseudomugil pellucidus - photo© Gerald Allen |
Allen, Ivantsoff, Shepherd and Renyaan, 1998
Transparent Blue-eye
Description
Head silver reddish blending into silver reddish opercle and peritoneum. Rest of fish quite transparent. Swim bladder transparent and obvious. Upper edge of midlateral band neon red, rest of band solid black, extending to hypural joint and then fanning out onto caudal as thin black stripes on each of mid caudal rays. Dorsal fin jet black, with small flash of orange on first dorsal spine. Second dorsal fin dusky with rays suffused with melanophores to form black stripes; posteriorly edged with brilliant orange. Thin black and orange bands extending along entire length of anal fin. Upper half of caudal with small flashes of orange. Edges of body scales outlined heavily in black above midlateral band and lightly below. Iris with orange hue.
Distribution
Tributaries of the Iwaka and Kopi Rivers in the Timika-Tembagapura region of West Papua.
Habitat & Ecology
Pseudomugil pellucidus are found in small shallow streams usually slow flowing through dense rainforest, always in clear water which may be deeply stained with tannin. Aquatic vegetation is sparse or absent at collection site. Bottom is variable from sand, to gravel, pebble and rocks. Water temperature 24-28°C, pH 6.7-7.8. Co-occurs with Pseudomugil ivantsoffi, Craterocephalus nouhuysi, Melanotaenia goldiei, Melanotaenia ogilbyi, Neosilurus brevidorsalis, Ambassis agrammus, Glossamia sandei, Oxyeleotris fimbriata, Oxyeleotris nullipora and Mogurnda cingulata.
Pseudomugil pellucidus is a small, laterally compressed fish, at present not known to exceed 32 mm SL. They swim close to the surface, in contrast with its sympatric congener, Pseudomugil ivantsoffi which is found in mid water or near the bottom. Individuals possess a pupil-sized white spot on top of the head which is readily visible when observed from the stream bank.
Remarks
Named "pellucidus" (Latin), meaning clear or transparent. Live specimens have been collected but still the species is not widely available in the aquarium hobby.
© Copyright Adrian R. Tappin
Updated January, 2007.
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