Melanotaenia arguni
Species Summary
Melanotaenia arguni is one of four closely related rainbowfishes described together in 2012 from the Arguni Bay region of the Bomberai Peninsula and Bird’s Neck, West Papua, Indonesia. All four are allied to M. ammeri, M. irianjaya, M. kokasensis, M. angfa and each other, sharing a similar general body plan with relatively little difference between the sexes beyond colour intensity — unlike most rainbowfishes, males do not develop a noticeably deeper body or more elongated fin rays than females. Live males are brown above with narrow yellowish stripes on the lower body and a single dark mid-lateral stripe, one scale wide, running the length of the body — a plainer pattern than most of its relatives.
Etymology
The species is named for Arguni Bay, close to the type locality.
Etymology compiled from C. Scharpf (2023), “Fishes of Sahul: An Etymological Survey (Part 6), the rainbowfishes (continued)”, Fishes of Sahul 37(1): 2006–2022, and etyfish.org.
Distribution & Habitat
Melanotaenia arguni is known only from Jasu Creek, a stream under 5 m wide flowing to the western side of Arguni Bay near Egerwara village. The habitat there is shallow, slow-flowing water over sand, in secondary forest and cocoa plantations.
Comparison with Similar Species
Melanotaenia arguni is told from M. ammeri by its plainer colour pattern (a single dark mid-lateral stripe with narrow yellowish stripes below, rather than numerous alternating mauve-blue and yellow stripes), a smaller eye and a more slender caudal peduncle. From M. irianjaya it differs in a shorter snout, smaller eye and fewer gill rakers; from M. kokasensis in a narrower interorbital space, smaller eye and shorter, more slender caudal peduncle; and from M. angfa and M. parva in a smaller eye and thinner body.
Account compiled for Home of the Rainbowfish from Kadarusman, R. K. Hadiaty, G. Segura, G. Setiawibawa, D. Caruso & L. Pouyaud (2012), “Four new species of Rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Arguni Bay, West Papua, Indonesia”, Cybium 36(2): 369–382.
References
- Kadarusman, R.K. Hadiaty, G. Segura, G. Setiawibawa, D. Caruso & J. Pouyaud (2012) Four new species of Rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Arguni Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Cybium, 36(2): 369-382.