Melanotaenia solata Taylor, 1964
Northern Rainbowfish

Family:  Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes)
Max. size:  12 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Oceania: Australia. Formerly identified as M. australis, but DNA studies indicate otherwise; the two species' geographic ranges do not overlap.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 18-21. Scales: horizontal rows 10-13; vertical rows 31-36; predorsal 14-22; cheek 9-13. Greatest body depth (>5 cm SL), females 30.5-36.2 and males 32.9-41% of SL (Ref. 44894).
Biology:  Habitat where found is highly variable, including rivers, creeks, swamps, marshy lagoons, lakes, and reservoirs. Usually forms aggregations at or near the surface of deeper pools in stream habitats, especially where there is aquatic vegetation or log debris (Ref. 44894).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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