Melanotaenia splendida is a rainbowfish typically distributed in Australia. It can be found in different habitats, including swamps, lakes, streams and rivers.
The specimens display a wide variety of colours depending on location, diet, and natural conditions of the biotope. The base colour is bluish-green, olivaceous to yellowish, grading to white on the lower sides. The side of the body usually has a bluish-green, yellowish-red or purplish sheen. Body stripes can be yellow, green, blue or red. Moreover, the dorsal, caudal and anal fins can be red and yellow chequered or orange-yellow with bright red spots and faint black edges. Females and young specimens have plain silvery bodies and fins that are either translucent or faintly coloured. Instead, males are larger, deeper bodied and more brightly-coloured, especially during spawning.
- GPS
- -12.4292183, 132.9671021
- Geographical region
- Oceania
- Drainage Basin
- East Alligator River
- River catchment
- Alligator River
- Water body type
- River
- Water body name
- East Alligator River
- Water body part
- Water body course
- Upper course
- Water body: tributary of
- River
- Tributary name
- Alligator River
- Type locality
- Fitzroy River, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
- Conservation status/IUCN Red List
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Videos
