| Family: |
Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes) |
| Max. size: |
4.87 cm SL (male/unsexed); 4.08 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.6 - 8 |
| Distribution: |
Asia: Wapoga River system in Papua Province, Indonesia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 4-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 17-21. Melanotaenia rubrivittata is distinguished by the following combination of characters: IV-VI-I,9-12 (usually V-I,10-11) dorsal-fin rays; I,17-21 (usually I,18-20) anal-fin rays; 10-13 (usually 11-12) pectoral-fin rays; 32-33 scales on lateral line, 13-16 (usually 14-15) predorsal scales; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; 12-14 gill rakers on first arch; 11-16 (average 8.9) scales covering cheek (preopercle); snout length 3.2 (3.0-4.3) in HL; average body depth of adult males 37.7 % SL; color in life brilliant neon blue on upper two-thirds of body with five red stripes (one between each scale row); ventral portion of head and body silvery white to blue with slight pinkish hue; first dorsal fin blue; second dorsal fin blue with red basal stripe and broad red zone encompassing outer margin and posterior portion of fin; anal fin bluish with red basal stripe and red outer margin; caudal fin red, grading to bluish or translucent along posterior margin (Ref. 111039). |
| Biology: |
The type specimen was collected from a small, fully shaded pond formed from previous flooding of the nearby Tirawiwa River (sometimes spelt Tiawiwa). The pond was about 12 m in diameter with an average depth of only 30 cm and substratum comprising of soft mud covered with a layer of organic debris, mainly dead leaves. Other specimens were found in a small (2-5 m width), closed-canopy rainforest stream 1.3 km northwest from the type locality. Only Melanotaenia rubrivittata and Mogurnda wapoga were collected at both sites, although a few juvenile Glossolepis leggetti were obtained from the pond habitat. Also found in a small (about 1.5-2 m wide) rainforest stream that was also inhabited by Melanotaenia rubripinnis and Chilatherina alleni (Ref. 111039). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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