Eastern Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia splendida tatei

Also known as: Checkered rainbowfish • Desert rainbowfish • East Queensland rainbow fish

Kingdom: Metazoa• Family: Melanotaeniidae• Order: Atheriniformes

Melanotaenia splendida splendida, also known as the eastern rainbowfish, is a subspecies of fish in the family Melanotaeniidae endemic to Australia.

📌 Description and diet

]] It is a small fish commonly found up to 8 cm but known to reach up to 14 cm. Males are highly variable in colour from pale bluish-green or greenish-brown overall to yellowish and paler below, with a yellow or orange spot on the gill cover. Females and juveniles are silvery with translucent or faintly coloured fins. The eastern rainbowfish is an omnivore and feeds on algae, insects, microcrustaceans and other small invertebrates.

Quick Facts

Common Names:

Eastern Rainbowfish, Checkered rainbowfish, Desert rainbowfish, East Queensland rainbow fish, Eastern rainbow fish, Eastern rainbowfish, McDonald ranges rainbow fish, Northern sunfish, Splendid rainbowfish, Chequered Rainbow Fish, Chequered Rainbow-fish, Chequered Rainbowfish, Desert Rainbow Fish, Desert Rainbowfish, East Queensland Rainbow Fish, Eastern Rainbow Fish, McDonald Ranges Rainbow Fish, Northern Sunfish, Splendid Rainbowfish

Class:

Actinopteri

Data Completeness:

100%

Data Sources

🌍gbif

📚itis

📖wikipedia

🔬eol

🦎inaturalist

References

All references are verified for authenticity. We prioritize peer-reviewed studies, reputable databases (iNaturalist, GBIF), and established encyclopedias.

Distribution Statistics

Observations

Countries

Top Locations

Bulloo, AU-QL, AU

Pungalina Station, Calvert River, Northern Territory, Australia

Douglas, AU-QL, AU

Queensland, AU

Hussey Rd, Mount Peter, QLD, AU

Recent Observers

@olliescully1

@bazzafly123

@spqrblake

@bradleyfishes

@prickly_sculpin

@lysdexia

First: 1/19/2007 · Latest: 5/31/2025

Data aggregates species content from multiple sources including Wikipedia, iNaturalist, GBIF, and ITIS. Content may transform over time. Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.