Scientific Name
Melanotaenia solata

Common Name
Northern Rainbowfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 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).

Classification

Classified By

Taylor, 1964

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Silversides (Atheriniformes)

Family

Rainbowfishes, blue eyes (Melanotaeniidae)

Distribution

Region

Oceania

Distribution

Oceania: Australia. Formerly identified as M. australis, but DNA studies indicate otherwise; the two species' geographic ranges do not overlap.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

2.87 s.e. 0.34 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

12.0 cm

Common Length

8.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (38 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated