Family MELANOTAENIIDAE

Melanotaeniidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Melanotaenia splendida, male paratype of Aidaprora carteri

© Copyright A.K. Carter in Whitley 1938

Melanotaenia splendida, female paratype of Aidroprora carteri

© Copyright A.K. Carter in Whitley 1938

Melanotaenia splendida tatei, Monetcolina Bore, SA

© Copyright D.F. Hoese

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Introduction

Members of the Melanotaeniidae occur in Australia, New Guinea and some surrounding islands. Worldwide the family contains seven genera and approximately 81 species (Allen et al. 2002, Unmack et al. 2013). Four genera and 16 species are known from Australia. However genetic work currently underway has indicated additional species (Unmack et al. 2013). The rainbowfishes were reviewed by Allen & Cross (1982); Saeed et al. (1989) removed Pseudomugil to a separate family. Bloom et al. (2012) suggested that the family might not be monophyletic with Cairnsichthys more closely related to Pseudomugil. However, they noted limited support for that hypothesis. Tentatively we retain the classification in Nelson (2006), except recognising the Pseudomugilidae as a distinct family.

Most melanotaeniids inhabit freshwater streams, lakes, and swamps. Many are popular aquarium fishes. The maximum size is about 12 cm standard length, but a few rainbowfishes are under 5 cm standard length.

General References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Cross, N.J. 1982. Rainbowfishes of Australia and Papua-New Guinea. New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 142 pp. figs.

Bloom, D.D., Unmack, P.J., Gosztonyi, A.E., Piller, K.R. & Lovejoy, N.R. 2012. It's a family matter: Molecular phylogenetics of Atheriniformes and the polyphyly of the surf silversides (Family: Notocheiridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 62: 1025-1030

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [Part 2, p. 689]

McGuigan, K.M., Zhu, D., Allen, G.R. & Moritz, C. 2000. Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of melanotaeniid fishes in Australia and New Guinea. Marine and Freshwater Research 51: 713-723

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Saeed, B. & Ivantsoff, W. 1991. Kalyptatherina, the first telmatherinid genus known outside Sulawesi. Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwater 2(3): 227-238

Unmack, P.J., Allen, G.R. & Johnson, J.B. 2013. Phylogeny and biogeography of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Australia and New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 67: 15-27

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Neptune, New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 240 pp., 63 pls. [86] (Rainbowfishes)

History of changes