Rainbowfishes

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).

Species
Cairnsichthys
Cairnsichthys rhombosomoides Cairns Rainbowfish

Chilatherina
Chilatherina alleni Allen's Rainbowfish
Chilatherina axelrodi Axelrod's Rainbowfish
Chilatherina bleheri Bleher's Rainbowfish
Chilatherina bulolo Bulolo Rainbowfish
Chilatherina campsi Highland Rainbowfish
Chilatherina crassispinosa Silver Rainbowfish
Chilatherina fasciata Barred Rainbowfish
Chilatherina lorentzi Lorentz's Rainbowfish
Chilatherina pricei Price's Rainbowfish
Chilatherina sentaniensis Sentani Rainbowfish

Glossolepis
Glossolepis dorityi Dority's Rainbowfish
Glossolepis incisus Salmon-Red Rainbowfish
Glossolepis leggetti Leggett's Rainbowfish
Glossolepis maculosus Spotted Rainbowfish
Glossolepis multisquamatus Sepik Rainbowfish
Glossolepis pseudoincisus Tami River Rainbowfish
Glossolepis ramuensis Ramu Rainbowfish
Glossolepis wanamensis Lake Wanam Rainbowfish

Iriatherina
Iriatherina werneri Threadfin Rainbowfish or Featherfin Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia
Melanotaenia affinis New Guinea Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia ajamaruensis Ajamaru Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia angfa ANGFA Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia arfakensis Arfak Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia batanta Batanta Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani Boeseman's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia caerulea Blue Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia catherinae Waigeo Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia corona Corona Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia duboulayi Crimson-Spotted Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia eachamensis Lake Eacham Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia exquisita Exquisite Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia fluviatilis Murray River Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia fredericki Sorong Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia goldiei Goldie River Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia gracilis Slender Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi Lake Tebera Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia irianjaya Irian Jaya Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia iris Strickland Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia japenensis Japen Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia kamaka Kamaka Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lacustris Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lakamora Lakamora Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia maccullochi Dwarf Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia maylandi Mayland's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia misoolensis Misool Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia monticola Mountain Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia mubiensis Mubi Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia nigrans Black-Banded Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia ogilbyi Ogilby's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia oktediensis Oktedi Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia papuae Papuan Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia parkinsoni Parkinson's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia parva Lake Kurumoi Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pierucciae Pierucci's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pimaensis Pima River Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox Neon Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pygmaea Pgymy Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia rubripinnis Red-finned Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia sexlineata Six-Lined Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia sp. "(Batanta)" Batanta Island Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida australis Western Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida inornata Checkered Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida rubrostriata Red-Striped Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida splendida Eastern Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida tatei Desert Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia sylvatica Forest Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia trifasciata Regal Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia utcheensis Utchee Creek Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia vanheurni Van Heurn's Rainbowfish

Rhadinocentrus
Rhadinocentrus ornatus Ornate Rainbowfish