A NEW SPECIES OF RAINBOWFISH
A new species of rainbowfish, Melanotaenia garylangei, is described on the basis of 15
specimens, 42–78 mm SL, from Brazza River (Eilanden River system) at Dekai village in the
central southern part of Papua Province, Indonesia. The new species belongs to the
“Maccullochi” group, a clade inhabiting southern New Guinea and parts of northern Australia.
It is most similar to M. ogilbyi from the adjacent Unir river drainage, a species that shares most
meristic and morphometric features and parts of the colour pattern. Melanotaenia garylangei
is however clearly distinguished by having more rays in the second dorsal fin, and by
conspicuous iridescent blue coloration of adult males along the upper lateral body between the
head and first dorsal fin. This brings the number of described species in the “Maccullochi”
group to seven.