Chequered Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida inornata (Castelnau 1875)

Other Names: Remu

Chequered Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida inornata, Mary RIver form, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Source: Dave Wilson / Aquagreen, http://www.aquagreen.com.au/. License: All rights reserved

Summary:

One of three subspecies in the Melanotaenia splendida complex. Chequered Rainbowfish are overall olive-green to yellowish with a purplish sheen on the sides, a yellowish mid-lateral stripe that becomes bluish-green to brownish-green on the tail base, yellow to reddish stripes along the sides and an orange to yellow spot on the gill cover. The orange-yellow dorsal, anal and caudal fins have bright red spots, or a red and yellow chequered pattern, and a faint black fin margin. Females and juveniles are silvery with translucent or faintly coloured fins.

Males are larger, deeper bodied and more brightly-coloured, with elongate rays on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.

Chequered Rainbowfish in the Finniss River, NT.

Video of Chequered Rainbowfish from the Adelaide River, NT

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2017, Melanotaenia splendida inornata in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4905

Chequered Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida inornata (Castelnau 1875)

More Info

Distribution	Found in the Arafura Sea drainage east of Mary River, Northern Territory, also in streams flowing into Gulf of Carpentaria including those of western Cape York Peninsula to the Jardine River, Queensland, also in Torres Strait on Prince of Wales Island and Badu Island. Occurs in most freshwater habitats, including slow-moving streams, wetland swamps, lagoons and clear flowing rivers, usually in areas with dense aquatic vegetation. They are generally found in waters with moderately thick vegetation.
Feeding	Feeds on algae, and a range of invertebrates including microcrustaceans, and aquatic and terrestrial insects.
Biology	Chequered Rainbowfish spawn mainly during the early-wet season, although juveniles may be found year-round. Females lay relatively large demersal eggs that are attached to aquatic vegetation by fine threads.
Remarks	The common name Remu is the Yolngu word for Chequered Rainbowfish from Gulbuwangay, a small creek that runs into the Arafura Swamp near Mirrngatja, a small village on the SE corner of this vast wetland (Dave Wilson, Aquagreen).
Species Citation	Aida inornata Castelnau 1875, Intercolonial Exhibition Essays: 10. Type locality: Gulf of Carpentaria drainage.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2017
Resources	Australian Faunal Directory

Chequered Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia splendida inornata (Castelnau 1875)

References

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Whitley, G.P. 1935. Studies in Ichthyology No. 9. Records of the Australian Museum 19(4): 215-250 figs 1-11 pl. 18