Scientific Name
Melanotaenia praecox

Common Name
Dwarf rainbowfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-14; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 16 - 21. Develops a very deep body, particularly in males, at a remarkably small size (3.0-3.5 cm SL).

Classification

Classified By

Weber & de Beaufort, 1922

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Silversides (Atheriniformes)

Family

Rainbowfishes, blue eyes (Melanotaeniidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: Mamberamo River in northern Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

Range

2°S - 3°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

2.93 s.e. 0.35 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

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

5.0 cm

Common Length

4.0 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

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Data deficient (DD)