Melanotaenia salawati
Salawati Rainbowfish
Species Summary
Melanotaenia salawati is a rainbowfish described in 2011 from Salawati Island, in the Raja Ampat group just west of the Bird’s Head Peninsula of West Papua. Earlier collectors had identified this population as M. fredericki, but the true M. fredericki is now understood to be restricted to the westernmost Bird’s Head, and the Salawati population proves to be its own species, most closely allied to M. batanta of neighbouring Batanta Island and to M. fredericki. Unusually for the genus, it shows little sexual dimorphism: males lack the deeper body and elongated fin rays that typically distinguish male rainbowfishes from females.
Etymology
The species is named simply for Salawati Island, West Papua, Indonesia, where it is endemic.
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 salawati is known only from its type locality, Doktor Creek (Kali Doktor), near Waipule village on northwestern Salawati Island. Locals named the stream ‘doktor’ for its waters’ reputed ability to treat minor wounds. It is a clear, shallow, fast-flowing stream 5–10 m wide, running over metamorphic gravel and pebble through dense forest.
Description
A moderately deep-bodied rainbowfish reaching at least 89 mm SL. Mature males are azure blue above, with each body scale finely outlined in dark, and whitish to pale neon blue below, with an oblong blue blotch running from beneath the pectoral fin to above the middle of the anal fin. A narrow gold stripe runs between each scale row on the upper body, a faint dark blotch sits behind the eye on the upper operculum, and a diffuse dark mid-lateral stripe (about one scale wide anteriorly, widening to about three scales on the caudal peduncle) is broken by two or three faint bars in the middle of the body. The fins carry a golden tint that intensifies from base to tip. Females share the same pattern but in paler tones.
Comparison with Similar Species
Melanotaenia salawati is distinguished from M. batanta by its plain dorsal fins (lacking a dark margin stripe), a shorter snout, a longer caudal peduncle, and a shorter dorsal-fin base, together with more cheek scales. It differs from M. fredericki in a longer snout, a wider interorbital space, a shorter spine on the second dorsal fin, a longer anal-fin base, and more cheek scales and gill rakers. From the remaining Raja Ampat species — M. catherinae, M. synergos and M. misoolensis — it is told apart by a shorter head, smaller eye, and shorter prepelvic, preanal and dorsal-fin-base lengths.
Account compiled for Home of the Rainbowfish from Kadarusman, Sudarto, J. Slembrouck & L. Pouyaud (2011), “Description of Melanotaenia salawati, a new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Salawati Island, West Papua, Indonesia”, Cybium 35(3): 223–230.
References
- Kadarusman, Sudarto, J. Slembrouck and L. Pouyaud (2011) Description of Melanotaenia salawati, a new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Salawati Island, West Papua, Indonesia. Cybium 35(3): 223-230.