| Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes) |
| 10 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
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benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 5.19999980926514 - 5.59999990463257; dH range: 10 |
| Oceania: occurs only in Australia. |
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| 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). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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Known from Queensland and the Northern Territory (Ref. 48666). Occurs in Napier Broome Bay in the eastern Kimberley (Western Australia), northernmost portion of the Northern Territory including Groote Eylandt (in the Gulf of Carpentaria) and the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula (Queensland) (Ref. 44894). Also Ref. 75154. |
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