Melanotaenia maylandi

Melanotaenia maylandi - photo© Gerald Allen

Allen, 1982
Mayland's Rainbowfish

Species Summary
Adult males of Melanotaenia maylandi 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. Males are more brightly coloured, larger, and deeper bodied than females. They may reach a maximum size of 10 cm.

Distribution & Habitat
So far Melanotaenia maylandi have only been collected from a small creek about 2 km upstream from Danau Bira (Lake Holmes) in the lower Mamberamo system of West Papua.

Remarks
This species was discovered by Heiko Bleher and Gerald Allen during a visit to West Papua 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.

Literature
Allen, G. R. (1983). Melanotaenia maylandi, a new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from New Guinea. Revue française d'Aquariologie 10 (3): 83-86.

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