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Rainbowfish

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Rainbowfishes
Melanotaenia praecox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Atheriniformes
Suborder:
Melanotaenioidei
Family:
Melanotaeniidae
Genus:
Melanotaenia Rhadinocentrus

The Rainbowfishes are a family of small, colourful, freshwater fish that are found in northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea and some other nearby islands.

The dominant Rainbowfish genus and its many species derive their generic name Melanotaenia from the Ancient Greek Melano (=black) and taenia (=ribbon). Translated, it means "black ribbon" and is a reference to the often striking black margins found on the soft dorsal and anal fins of Rainbowfish species.

Rainbowfish are popular aquarium fish along with Blue-eyes (Pseudomugil spp.), which are another small colourful fish found in a similar range and habitats. Rainbowfish populations in the wild have been severely affected by the aggressive introduced mosquitofish (Gambusia).

File:IMG 0152.jpg
Unknown species, possibly Dwarf Rainbowfish.


Species


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