TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Atheriniformes (Silversides)
Family: Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes)

Genus/species: Iriatherina werneri

Threadfin rainbow fish, Iriatherina werneri IMG_7039

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Length up to 5 cm (2.0 in) not including the long tail.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Northern Australia and Indonesia on the island of New Guinea in slow-moving streams, freshwater swamps, lagoons, and billabongs. It’s most commonly found in heavily vegetated, marginal habitats less than 1.5 m in-depth.

DIET IN THE WILD: Phytoplankton, diatoms, and other zooplankton.

REPRODUCTION: Egg-scatterer exhibiting no parental care and will consume its own eggs and fry given the opportunity.

Threadfin rainbow fish, Iriatherina werneri IMG_7044

Water Planet  In and Out of Water Cluster WP12

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