Melanotaenia sexlineata

Melanotaenia sexlineata [Kiunga] - photo© Joël Félix

Munro, 1964
Fly River Rainbowfish

Species Summary
Melanotaenia sexlineata are a very attractive species. They have a lemon-greenish body colouration with 5-8 narrow black stripes. The mid-lateral band is darker. They have a deeper body than Melanotaenia papuae or Melanotaenia maccullochi and males often show red coloured lips giving the appearance that they are wearing lipstick. Females are a subdued version of the male with lesser-defined markings. There have been a number of different colour forms collected. Heiko Bleher collected a different colour variety with a blue coloured back and orange fins from the upper Fly River catchment, apparently somewhere along the Kiunga-Tabubil Road in 2003. In 2007, Mark Allen collected specimens with an iridescent turquoise and golden sheen. Melanotaenia sexlineata may reach a maximum size of 8 cm, but usually less than 7 cm SL.

Distribution & Habitat
Melanotaenia sexlineata are presently only known from tributaries of the Fly River near the town of Kiunga. Most specimens have been collected from creeks immediately north of Kiunga along the Kiunga-Tabubil Road. The full extent of its distribution is unknown. They have been found in small, shallow tannic stained streams. Readings of pH 6.1~7.4 and 25°C have been reported from the collection sites.

This little pool in Kiunga township contained Melanotaenia sexlineata - photo© Peter Hallas

Remarks
Melanotaenia sexlineata were initially discovered in 1937 by Stuart Campbell in an upper tributary of the Fly River, Papua New Guinea. However, they were not scientifically described until 1964 when Australian ichthyologist, Ian Munro named them Nematocentris sexlineatus. In a later review of the rainbowfish group the genus name was changed to Melanotaenia. Munro had catalogued some specimens from Port Moresby as paratypes of Melanotaenia sexlineata in 1964. Further research on these and newly collected specimens resulted in the recognition of a new species Melanotaenia papuae in 1981. Gerry Allen brought live specimens to Australia in 1982 where they were subsequently bred and distributed in the aquarium hobby. Since then there has been a number of live collections and Melanotaenia sexlineata is relatively freely available in the aquarium hobby.

Melanotaenia sexlineata - photo© Neil Armstrong

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

Munro, I. S. R. (1964). Additions to the fish fauna of New Guinea. Papua New Guinea Agricultural Journal 16 (4): 141-186.