Spotted rainbowfish

Spotted Rainbowfish ( Glossolepis maculosus )

The spotted rainbow fish ( Glossolepis maculosus ) is a freshwater fish from northern Papua New Guinea. It was first collected in 1979 by Barry Crockford and 1981 described by the Australian ichthyologist Allen scientifically.

Features

The body of the spotted rainbow fish is greenish- bronze with pale blue reflective scales and a series of dark spots along the midsection. The number of spots varies individually 4-10 and can even differ between body side. Below the center of the body, the species is whitish and yellowish colored tail direction. The fins are bluish- green with black hem. The females are similar but more restrained colored as the males. They can also be distinguished by their slightly more rounded body and rounded fin tips. Adult males are larger and deep-bodied than the females. The first dorsal fin of the males dominated in the state in the approach of the second dorsal fin. The species grows to about six inches tall, rarely up to eight inches.

The Spotted Rainbow Fish remembers, as is the closely related Ramu rainbow fish, rather to species of the genus Melanotaenia as from the genus Glossolepis. Even after genetic testing, it belongs in the genus Melanotaenia with Melanotaenia affinis and Melanotaenia iris as other close relatives.

Occurrence

The species is known only locally from the river systems of the Markham, Ramu and Sepik. The first record comes from a small tributary of the Oomsis about 22 km west of Lae.

Habitat is slow-flowing rivers, swamps, and quiet backwaters. Usually, the species occurs in relatively calm, clear water in front at temperatures of 18 to 28 ° C. She thinks she preferred to near floating plants, submerged vegetation or sunken branches. Sometimes the spotted rainbow fish should occur together with Glossolepis Kabia, Melanotaenia affinis and Chilatherina campsi.