Australian Rainbow

Bacterial Infections (general). Bacterial diseases

Deposits thread-bearing eggs on plants. Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Inhabits rainforest streams, lily lagoons and small streams. Also occurs in larger streams, usually in backwaters or along the shoreline where there is minimal flow and grassy vegetation. Often found in brackish coastal waters (Ref. 7020). Feeds mainly on aquatic and terrestrial insects and their larvae, and also filamentous green algae.

Inhabits rainforest streams, lily lagoons and small streams. Also occurs in larger streams, usually in backwaters or along the shoreline where there is minimal flow and grassy vegetation. Often found in brackish coastal waters (Ref. 7020, 44894). Temperature and pH ranges are 23°-28°C and 5.5-7, respectively (Ref. 44894). Feeds mainly on aquatic and terrestrial insects and their larvae, and also filamentous green algae. Usually co-occurs with other species of rainbows and blue-blue eyes. A popular aquarium species which thrives in captivity. Type species (first species to be described) of the family Melanotaeniidae (Ref. 44894).

aquarium: commercial

Melanotaenia nigrans (Richardson, 1843)

USNM 217124, Fly 75–2, 15: 13.6–93.9 mm.

USNM 217125, Fly 75–4, 16: 9.1–47.1 mm.

USNM 217126, Fly 75–14, 36: 12.0–94.7 mm.

Melanotaenia cf. vanheurni (Weber and de Beaufort, 1922)

USNM 217127, Fly 75–8, 1: 73.8 mm.

A single specimen of Melanotaenia was obtained in the highlands of the Upper Fly. It agrees in most respects with the description of M. vanheurni (Weber and de Beaufort, 1922:299–300) except in having a more slender body and caudal peduncle. The Fly specimen has upper jaw very slightly protruding, lips not notably swollen anteriorly; head 3.7, eye 13 (3.6 in head); depth of body at origin of second dorsal fin 3.5 (2.7–3.2 in M. vanheurni); height of caudal peduncle into length of caudal peduncle 2 (1.2–1.5 in M. vanheurni); 38 scales in lateral series, 15 predorsal scales, and 12 scales in transverse series at origin of second dorsal fin. Gill rakers on first gill arch 2+1+14. First dorsal fin I 5, second dorsal fin I 20, anal fin I 26, and pectoral fin 14. Base of first dorsal fin almost entirely anterior to a vertical line through origin of anal fin. A longitudinal black band, nearly two scale rows wide, extends on middle of body from just behind head to base of caudal fin.

The more slender body and caudal peduncle of the present 73.8-mm specimen may indicate that larger individuals in the Fly population do not develop the deeper, more rhombic body form characteristic of larger M. vanheurni, a species otherwise known only from the Mamberamo basin in northern New Guinea.

Nematocentris rubrostriatus Ramsay and Ogilby, 1887

USNM 217128, Fly 75–1, 12: 20.0–85.0 mm.

USNM 217129, Fly 75–2, 6: 44.7–92.4 mm.

USNM 217130, Fly 75–3, 8: 9.5–16.7 mm.

USNM 217131, Fly 75–4, 1: 29.8 mm.

USNM 217132, Fly 75–6, 23: 15.2–71.3 mm.

USNM 217133, Fly 75–8, 1: 95.3 mm.

USNM 217134, Fly 75–9, 19: 20.4–60.8 mm.

USNM 217135, Fly 75–16, 14: 31.3–65.8 mm.

USNM 217136, Fly 75–20, 8: 27.6–57.8 mm.

USNM 217137, Fly 75–22, 1: 41.2 mm.

USNM 217138, Fly 75–24, 2: 64.0–73.4 mm.

The black-banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia nigrans) is a species of rainbowfish belonging to the subfamily Melanotaeniidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Importantly, the species is the type species of the genus Melanotaenia.