Teleostei (teleosts) >
Atheriniformes (Silversides) >
Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes)
Etymology: Cairnsichthys: Named after the north Queensland town of Cairns + Greek, ichthys = fish; Collected in 1921, in Babinda Creek; personal communication from Mister Kuiter. See Kuiterichthys.
More on authors: Nichols & Raven.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.2 - 7.6; dH range: 10 - ?. Tropical; 21°C - 25°C (Ref. 2060)
Oceania: endemic to Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894); 6.5 cm SL (female); common length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894)
Occurs in small rainforest creeks usually in hilly terrain with alternating sections of rapids and rocky pools varying in depth from several centimeters to one to three meters. Bottom composed of boulders, cobbles and gravel with minimal plant growth. In spite of the limited distribution its future seems secure as long as the rainforest habitat of the Bellenden Ker Range is protected. Much of this area lies within a national park (Ref. 44894).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Allen, G.R., 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. (Ref. 5259)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Endangered (EN) (B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii)); Date assessed: 15 February 2019
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.41 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 131).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).