Blackbanded Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia nigrans (Richardson 1843)

Other Names: Black Striped Rainbow Fish, Black-banded Jewelfish, Black-banded Jewel-fish, Black-banded Rainbow Fish, Black-banded Rainbowfish, Black-striped Rainbowfish, Common Freshwater Sunfish, Mauve Rainbow-fish, Spotted Sunfish, Yalgurnda

Summary:

A slender bluish-lavender rainbowfish with a very distinctive dark midlateral stripe, a narrow red stripe on the belly to the front part of the tail, a bright reddish spot on the gill cover and pale orange pectoral fins.

Blackbanded Rainbowfish in a tributary of the South Alligator River in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.

Cite this page as:

Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2020, Melanotaenia nigrans in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4499

Blackbanded Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia nigrans (Richardson 1843)

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to northern Australia and known from three isolated populations: Napier Broome Bay in the eastern Kimberly, Western Australia, coastal streams of the Northenr Territory from the Daly River eastwards across Arnhem Land to Groote Eylandt, and the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, including some Torres Strait islands. Considered locally common in habitats ranging from rainforest streams, lagoons, small swampy creeks, and backwaters and slow-flowing areas of larger rivers and streams. Although the species is usually found within 40 km of the ocean, it has been recorded up to 130 km inland.
Features	Dorsal fin IV-VI; I, 8-11; Anal fin I, 15-16; Pectoral fin 12-14; Pelvic fin I, 5. Body laterally compressed, relatively deep, greatest body depth (adults > 50 mm SL): males 25.0-33.3,females 25.0-28.0; head length 24.3-27.1; snout length 7.1-8.3; eye diameter 7.2-10.5; jaw teeth conical, vomer with a solid band of well-developed teeth; teeth present on palatines; lateral line absent. Scales cycloid to slightly crenulate with well-developed radii; large, horizontal scale rows 10-12; vertical scale rows 33 to 35. Two separate dorsal fins, 1st originating just forward of the origin of the anal fin; anal fin long based; caudal fin forked.
Size	To 8.5 cm SL, commonly to 6cm.
Colour	Grey-brown with bluish tinges dorsally, whitish ventrally with a prominent, broad black mid-lateral stripe extending though the eyes and a pinkish spot on opercle. During the breeding period males may have a bright yellow caudal fin, orange to mauve on the top of the head and the spot on the opercle intensifies. Mature males generally have a reddish second dorsal fin and black margins on the anal fin.
Feeding	Feeds on aquatic and terrestrial insects, and filamentous green algae.
Biology	Spawning occurs year-round in favourable conditions, with a peak during the wet season (December-March). throughout the year. Females spawn 50-70 adhesive eggs onto aquatic vegetation. The eggs are spherical with adhesive filaments. Larvae hatch after around 6-7 days and are well developed with a reduced yolk sac and fully formed mouth and pectoral fins. Feeding commences within 24 hours of hatching.
Remarks	Yalgurnda was the indigenous name for this species on the Port Essington area when the type specimens were collected (Richardson 1843).
Etymology	The specific name nigrans (= black, darkly coloured) in reference to the black midlateral stripe of this species.
Species Citation	Atherina nigrans Richardson, 1843, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1 11(69): 180. Type locality: Port Essington, Northern Territory.
Author	Gomon, M.F. & Bray, D.J. 2020
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Blackbanded Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia nigrans (Richardson 1843)

References

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Brown, C. & Bibost, A.-L.. 2014. Laterality is linked to personality in the black-lined rainbowfish, Melanotaenia nigrans. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 68: 999–1005 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-014-1712-0

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