Scientific Name
Melanotaenia monticola

Common Name
Mountain rainbowfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21

Classification

Classified By

Allen, 1980

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Silversides (Atheriniformes)

Family

Rainbowfishes, blue eyes (Melanotaeniidae)

Distribution

Region

Oceania

Distribution

Oceania: Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea between Mendi and Lake Kutubu, in the Purari River system, Omei Creek, 15 km south of Mendi and streams near Pimaga (13 km southeast of Lake Kutubu).

Range

5°S - 7°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

18 °C

Water Temperature To

22 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

2.9 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

8.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (34 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

Data deficient (DD)