| Boeseman's rainbowfish | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Atheriniformes |
| Family: | Melanotaeniidae |
| Genus: | Melanotaenia |
| Species: | M. boesemani |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanotaenia boesemani Allen & Cross, 1980 |
|
Boeseman's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is a species of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family. It is also known as Boesemani rainbowfish. It is endemic to Ayamaru River in a mountainous region of the Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua.
It is also available in the aquarium hobby, where it is prized for its excellent colors and peaceful demeanor. The colour pattern is completely different to most other forms of rainbowfish as it has a half orange-red rear and a blueish-grey or purple front which in some specimens is almost defined perfectly as though the fish has been dipped in paint from both ends. Melantotaenia boesemani will often grow to lengths that exceed 10 centimetres if given the right food and water conditions.