Dwarf rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox)

General data

Main name: Dwarf rainbowfish
Climates: Tropical
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: Australia & Oceania

Classification

Genus: Melanotaenia - Australian rainbowfishes
Family: Melanotaeniidae - Rainbowfishes
Order: Atheriniformes - Silversides
Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Description

Endemic to the Mamberamo river system, New Guinea, Indonesia. This is one of the largest river systems on the island, being over 2000 km long. Tends to inhabit swiftly flowing tributaries off the main river, as well as surrounding swamps and marshes. The fish congregate around areas of aquatic vegetation, or submerged roots and logs. Maximum Standard Length: 3.2″ (8 cm), although usually smaller in aquaria.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
    
    Melanotaeniidae - Rainbowfishes->
    
    Melanotaenia - Australian rainbowfishes->
    
    Dwarf rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox)
    
    Boeseman’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani)
    
    North New Guinea rainbowfish (Melanotaenia affinis)
    
    Ajamaru lakes rainbowfish (Melanotaenia ajamaruensis)
    
    Whitetip rainbowfish (Melanotaenia albimarginata)
    
    Melanotaenia ammeri (Melanotaenia ammeri)
    
    Yakati rainbowfish (Melanotaenia angfa)
    
    Arfak rainbowfish (Melanotaenia arfakensis)
    
    Melanotaenia arguni (Melanotaenia arguni)
    
    Aru rainbowfish (Melanotaenia aruensis)
    
    Western rainbowfish (Melanotaenia australis)
    
    Batanta rainbowfish (Melanotaenia batanta)
    
    Blue rainbowfish (Melanotaenia caerulea)
    
    Waigeo rainbowfish (Melanotaenia catherinae)
    
    Corona rainbowfish (Melanotaenia corona)
    
    Crimsonspotted rainbowfish (Melanotaenia duboulayi)
    
    Lake Eacham rainbowfish (Melanotaenia eachamensis)
    
    Susvva rainbovvfish (Melanotaenia ericrobertsi)
    
    Exquisite rainbowfish (Melanotaenia exquisita)
    
    Melanotaenia fasinensis (Melanotaenia fasinensis)
    
    Melanotaenia flavipinnis (Melanotaenia flavipinnis)
    
    Murray River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)
    
    Sorong rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fredericki)
    
    Melanotaenia garylangei (Melanotaenia garylangei)
    
    Goldie River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia goldiei)
    
    Slender rainbowfish (Melanotaenia gracilis)
    
    Lake Tebera rainbowfish (Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi)
    
    Irian Jaya rainbowfish (Melanotaenia irianjaya)
    
    Strickland rainbowfish (Melanotaenia iris)
    
    Yapen rainbowfish (Melanotaenia japenensis)
    
    Kamaka rainbowfish (Melanotaenia kamaka)
    
    Melanotaenia klasioensis (Melanotaenia klasioensis)
    
    Melanotaenia kokasensis (Melanotaenia kokasensis)
    
    Kola rainbowfish (Melanotaenia kolaensis)
    
    Lake Kutubu rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris)
    
    Lakamora rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lakamora)
    
    Aifuf rainbowfish (Melanotaenia laticlavia)
    
    Melanotaenia longispina (Melanotaenia longispina)
    
    Macculloch’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maccullochi)
    
    Lake Furnusu rainbowfish (Melanotaenia mairasi)
    
    Melanotaenia manibuii (Melanotaenia manibuii)
    
    Mayland’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia maylandi)
    
    Misool rainbowfish (Melanotaenia misoolensis)
    
    Mountain rainbowfish (Melanotaenia monticola)
    
    Mubi rainbowfish (Melanotaenia mubiensis)
    
    Moswaren rainbowfish (Melanotaenia multiradiata)
    
    Melanotaenia naramasae (Melanotaenia naramasae)
    
    Blackbanded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia nigrans)
    
    Ogilby’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia ogilbyi)
    
    Oktedi rainbowfish (Melanotaenia oktediensis)
    
    Papuan rainbowfish (Melanotaenia papuae)
    
    Parkinson’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia parkinsoni)
    
    Lake Kuromai rainbowfish (Melanotaenia parva)
    
    Patoti’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia patoti)
    
    Painted rainbowfish (Melanotaenia picta)
    
    Pierucci’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia pierucciae)
    
    Pima River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia pimaensis)
    
    Pygmy rainbowfish (Melanotaenia pygmaea)
    
    Red-finned rainbowfish (Melanotaenia rubripinnis)
    
    Melanotaenia rubrivittata (Melanotaenia rubrivittata)
    
    Red-striped rainbowfish (Melanotaenia rubrostriata)
    
    Melanotaenia rumberponensis (Melanotaenia rumberponensis)
    
    Melanotaenia salawati (Melanotaenia salawati)
    
    Melanotaenia sembrae (Melanotaenia sembrae)
    
    Senckenberg rainbowfish (Melanotaenia senckenbergiana)
    
    Fly River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia sexlineata)
    
    Melanotaenia sikuensis (Melanotaenia sikuensis)
    
    Kumawa rainbowfish (Melanotaenia sneideri)
    
    Northern Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia solata)
    
    Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida)
    
    Melanotaenia susii (Melanotaenia susii)
    
    Melanotaenia sylvatica (Melanotaenia sylvatica)
    
    Melanotaenia synergos (Melanotaenia synergos)
    
    Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata)
    
    Melanotaenia urisa (Melanotaenia urisa)
    
    Utchee rainbowfish (Melanotaenia utcheensis)
    
    Van Heurn’s rainbowfish (Melanotaenia vanheurni)
    
    Melanotaenia veoliae (Melanotaenia veoliae)
    
    Melanotaenia wanoma (Melanotaenia wanoma)
    
    Wokam rainbowfish (Melanotaenia wokamensis)
    
    Glossolepis - New Guinea Rainbowfishes ->
    
    Cairnsichthys - Cairnsichthys->
    
    Chilatherina - Chilatherina->
    
    Iriatherina - Iriatherina->
    
    Pelangia - Pelangia->
    
    Rhadinocentrus - Rhadinocentrus->
    
    Atherinidae - Old World silverside->
    
    Atherinopsidae - Neotropical silversides->
    
    Atherionidae - Pricklenose silversides->
    
    Bedotiidae - Madagascar rainbowfishes->
    
    Dentatherinidae - Tusked silversides->
    
    Isonidae - Isonids->
    
    Notocheiridae - Surf sardines->
    
    Phallostethidae - Priapiumfishes->
    
    Pseudomugilidae - Blue eyes->
    
    Telmatherinidae - Sailfin silversides->
    
    ToBeUsed - ToBeUsed->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->