Teleostei (teleosts) >
Atheriniformes (Silversides) >
Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes)
Etymology: Melanotaenia: Greek, melan, -anos = black + latin, taenia = stripe (Ref. 45335); maccullochi: Named for Allan Riverston McCulloch, a prominent and productive ichthyologist with the Australian Museum through the early 1900s..
More on author: Ogilby.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.0 - ? ; dH range: 10 - ?. Tropical; 20°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672); 6°S - 10°S
Oceania: northeastern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 44894)
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 13 - 17; Vertebrae: 32 - 35. This species with well-contrasted dark lateral body stripes, is distinguished by the following set of characters: D V-VI,I,8-10 (mode 9); A I,13-17 (mode 15); procurrent caudal rays 12-15 (mode 13); lateral line scales 30-33 (mode 32); cheek scales often 9-12; total gill rakers on first arch 13-18 (usually 14-16); vertebrae 32-35 (mode 33); body is moderately deep with greatest depth 2.8-3.7 (mean 3.3) in SL and greatest width 1.8-3.1 (mean 2.2) in HL; maxilla is relatively long 3.0-3.8 (mean 3.4) in HL; long predorsal distance 1.9-2.3 (mean 2.1) in SL. Colouration: when alive bronze to brown body lighter on ventral half with a series of dark brown lateral stripes; fins are orange to rich red especially in nuptial males, sometimes with lines of spots or a horizontal line near base but never as a thick submarginal band (Ref. 121823).
Inhabits lowland swamps and small streams, usually in clear, acidic waters with ample cover in the form of log debris or aquatic vegetation. Occurs at temperatures ranging from 24-30° C (Ref. 5259). Found in clear waters of small creeks and Pandanus swamps. pH range is 5.5-7 (Ref. 44894). Commonly co-occurs with Melanotaenia splendida and is often found in association with other wetland fish species particularly Pseudomugil gertrudae and Oxyeleotris nullipora (Ref. 121823),
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Produces 150-200 eggs. Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
Hammer, M.P., G.R. Allen, K.C. Martin, M. Adams and P.J. Unmack, 2019. Two new species of dwarf rainbowfishes (Atheriniformes: Melanotaeniidae) from northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Zootaxa 4701(3):201-234. (Ref. 121823)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 150).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
![Image of Melanotaenia maccullochi (Macculloch\](/images/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Memac_u6.jpg "Image of Melanotaenia maccullochi (Macculloch\")
