Species Profile: Melanotaenia sexlineata

Common Name:   Fly River Rainbowfish

General species photo

Description:   Melanotaenia sexlineata are a very attractive species. They have a lemon-greenish body colouration with 5-8 narrow black stripes. The mid-lateral band is darker. They have a deeper body than Melanotaenia papuae or Melanotaenia maccullochi and males often show red coloured lips giving the appearance that they are wearing lipstick. Females are a subdued version of the male with lesser-defined markings. There have been a number of different colour forms collected. Heiko Bleher collected a different colour variety with a blue coloured back and orange fins from the upper Fly River catchment, apparently somewhere along the Kiunga-Tabubil Road in 2003. In 2007, Mark Allen collected specimens with an iridescent turquoise and golden sheen. Melanotaenia sexlineata may reach a maximum size of 8 cm, but usually less than 7 cm SL.

Category:   Rainbowfish

Global Region:   Asia

Distribution:   Upper Fly River, Papua New Guinea