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Glossolepis leggetti (Tiawiwa River) - photo© Gerald Allen |
Allen and Renyaan, 1998
Leggett's Rainbowfish
Species Summary
Glossolepis leggetti males have a body colouration that is iridescent green on the back, dull orange to whitish on the breast and lower sides. A diffused blue midlateral band, its colouration most intense posteriorly and bordered immediately below by narrower stripe of light metallic blue. Sides with scattered dark blue flecks or narrow bars. Fins generally translucent although dorsal and anal may be bluish, particularly in adult males. Females are the same colour, but less ornate with a narrow midlateral stripe and with the dark flecks and narrow bars on the side considerably reduced. May reach a maximum size of 10 cm, but usually less than 8 cm SL.
Distribution & Habitat
Known only from the Wapoga River system of northern West Papua. They were found in relatively clear, quiet pools of the Tiawiwa River, a major tributary of the Wapoga, in the vicinity of Siewa airstrip. They were found together in the Tiawiwa River with Chilatherina alleni and Melanotaenia rubripinnis, but unlike these species which are most abundant in shallow relatively rapid sections, it favours deeper pools, with minimal flow.
Remarks
Glossolepis leggetti was named leggetti in honour of Ray Leggett of Brisbane, Queensland in recognition of his contributions to the knowledge of freshwater fishes of the Australian-New Guinea region. This species is not currently available in the aquarium hobby.
Literature
Allen G.R. and S. J. Renyaan (1998) Three new species of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology 3(2): 69-80.
Adrian R. Tappin
Updated August, 2015
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