Melanotaenia splendida
Melanotaenia splendida, the Eastern rainbowfish, is a species of rainbowfish from the subfamily Melanotaeniinae which is found in Australia.
Taxonomy
Melanotaenia splendida is highly variable and although three subspecies have been recognised these have been found to show a wide variety of morphology within each subspecies. These differences are obvious in colouration and in the depth of the body.The three commonly recognised subspecies are:Melanotaenia splendida inornata - chequered rainbowfishMelanotaenia splendida splendida - eastern rainbowfishMelanotaenia splendida tatei - desert rainbowfish
Distribution
The chequered rainbowfish is found in northern Australia from the Mary River east to the Cape York Peninsula and south to the Jardine River, it is also found on some of the Torres Strait Islands.The eastern rainbowfish occurs in rivers east of the Great Dividing Range from the Torres Strait Islands and the Cape York Peninsula south to the Dawson River in Queensland.
The desert rainbowfish is endemic to the drainage basin of Lake Eyre.