Species Profile: Melanotaenia parva

Common Name:   Lake Kurumoi Rainbowfish

Species Photo by: Joël Félix

Description:   Gerry Allen reported that there appeared to be two colour forms of Melanotaenia parva in Lake Kurumoi; males being either bluish to mauve with a black midlateral band (sometimes only on the front half), or silver with red speckling and narrow red or orange lines between each scale row on the side of the body. Fins of both varieties were red. Young males have a rosy-mauve body colour that turns more and more bright orange-red as they grow. The new species was reported to be very small (hence, the species name "parva", meaning small in Latin). However, Melanotaenia parva may reach a maximum size of 9-10 cm.

Category:   Rainbowfish

Global Region:   Oceania

Distribution:   Lake Kurumoi, New Guinea

CARES Classification:   Critically Endangered