Melanotaenia irianjaya

Melanotaenia irianjaya - photo© Gerald Allen

Allen, 1985
Irian Jaya Rainbowfish

Species Summary
Melanotaenia irianjaya have an overall mauve colouration with silvery reflections. There is a broad, bluish midlateral band, which is most prominent on the rear half of the body. The dorsal and anal fins are reddish with narrow white margins. The caudal fin is reddish and has distinctive black upper and lower margins. This species is unusual in having the middle rays of the dorsal and anal fins longer than the other rays; a feature generally associated with the genus Glossolepis. Males may reach a maximum size of 12 cm, but females are usually less than 10 cm. Unlike most rainbowfishes, males of this species lack the pronounced elongation of the posterior dorsal and anal fin rays. Males are more brightly coloured, larger, and deeper bodied than females.

Distribution & Habitat
Melanotaenia irianjaya was collected by Gerald Allen and Heiko Bleher in 1982. They are found primarily in river systems that drain into Bintuni Bay, West Papua. It is also found on the Bomberai Peninsula, immediately south of the Vogelkop and across Bintuni Bay. Habitats consist of rainforest streams ranging from slightly turbid and slow flowing over flat terrain to clear, moderately fast flowing through hills. Temperature and pH values range from 27~28°C and 7.3~7.8 respectively. The fish are found in areas with relatively few aquatic plants, over gravel or sand bottoms, often in the vicinity of submerged logs.

Remarks
Live specimens were collected by Heiko Bleher in 1982 and distribution to the aquarium trade in 1983.

Literature
Allen, G. R. (1985) Three new rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea. Revue française d'Aquariologie 12 (2): 53-62.

Allen, G.R. (1991) Field guide to the freshwater fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea.