| Main Ref. | Allen, G.R., P.J. Unmack and R.K. Hadiaty, 2008 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | Males are generally deeper bodied than females and have a more elongate, pointed shape posteriorly on the soft dorsal fin. The longest soft dorsal-fin rays of males are located in the posteriormost portion of the fin, in contrast to that of females, which are situated in the anterior half of fin. In addition, the depressed first dorsal fin of adult males extends to the base of the second or third soft ray of the second dorsal fin, compared with the spine of first ray in females. |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | |
| Type of scales | cycloid scales |
| Diagnosis |
A species of Melanotaeniid rainbowfish distinguished by the following combination of characters: dorsal rays IV to VI-I, 12 to 15 (usually 13 or 14); anal rays I,20-25 (usually I,21 to 23); pectoral rays 12 to 14 (usually 13 or 14); lateral scales 34-36 (usually 35), predorsal scales 17 to 19 (usually 17 or 18); total gill rakers on first arch 16 to 18 (usually 16); colour in life generally bluish dorsally with series of alternating mauve to blue-grey and pale yellow stripes (one per scale row) on side of body, midlateral blue stripe usually much darker than others; median fins generally yellow, brighter in adult males (Ref. 79630). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | 34 - 36 |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 16 - 18 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 2 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 5 - 7 |
| Soft-rays total | 12 - 15 |
| Adipose fin |
| Attributes |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 1 |
| Soft-rays total | 20 - 25 |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 12 - 14 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 5 - 5 |