Rhadinocentrus
1 species
The ornate rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus) is a species of rainbowfish endemic to an area in eastern Australia, where it is native to coastal regions and sandy offshore islands in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is the only known member of its genus. It is a popular aquarium fish.
The ornate rainbowfish is found in subtropical freshwaters in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Its range is coastal areas to the east of the Great Dividing Range from near Maryborough to Coffs Harbour. The species distribution extends to sandy islands of southern Queensland including Bribie, Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands. On the mainland its distribution is continuous in the southern part of its range but there is a disjunct population in the Byfield area which is separated from the southern population by 350 kilometres (220 mi).
Ornate rainbowfish inhabit freshwater creeks, streams, ponds and dune lakes in the coastal dune habitat locally known as wallum. Their typical habitat is sandy coastal areas where they are found in sluggish, acid waters stained with tannins from vegetation falling into the water where there is woody debris in the water, grassy banks, and thick submerged and emergent vegetation. In these habitats the ornate rainbowfish prefers to be in cover among submerged woody debris, in grassy banks and reeds; and within waterlily roots. It has also been recorded in clear streams with a slow current and little or no vegetation in gallery forests. This species can tolerate very soft waters and is known to live in water as acidic as orange juice.
This species congregates in small schools, especially where the habitat is clear, slow, shady streams over sands. These may be mixed schools with Nannoperca oxleyana and Pseudomugil mellis. This omnivorous species feeds mainly from the surface, and its diet consists of crustaceans, aquatic and terrestrial insects, pollen, algae and organic detritus. It is sexually dimorphic; the males are more brightly-coloured than the females with an elongated second ray in the second dorsal fin and an elongated anal fin. When breeding, the males develop a red nuptial stripe which runs from the snout to the second dorsal fin. The males are territorial and defend their territories from other males. Over a period of several days, the females lay eggs which stick to aquatic plants by an adhesive thread on the outside of each egg. The larvae hatch after a week to ten days. In the aquarium they reach sexual maturity between 9–12 months old and may have a lifespan of up to 4 years. The spawning season runs from November to January.
The ornate rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus) is a species of rainbowfish endemic to an area in eastern Australia, where it is native to coastal regions and sandy offshore islands in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is the only known member of its genus. It is a popular aquarium fish.
The ornate rainbowfish is found in subtropical freshwaters in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Its range is coastal areas to the east of the Great Dividing Range from near Maryborough to Coffs Harbour. The species distribution extends to sandy islands of southern Queensland including Bribie, Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands. On the mainland its distribution is continuous in the southern part of its range but there is a disjunct population in the Byfield area which is separated from the southern population by 350 kilometres (220 mi).
Ornate rainbowfish inhabit freshwater creeks, streams, ponds and dune lakes in the coastal dune habitat locally known as wallum. Their typical habitat is sandy coastal areas where they are found in sluggish, acid waters stained with tannins from vegetation falling into the water where there is woody debris in the water, grassy banks, and thick submerged and emergent vegetation. In these habitats the ornate rainbowfish prefers to be in cover among submerged woody debris, in grassy banks and reeds; and within waterlily roots. It has also been recorded in clear streams with a slow current and little or no vegetation in gallery forests. This species can tolerate very soft waters and is known to live in water as acidic as orange juice.
This species congregates in small schools, especially where the habitat is clear, slow, shady streams over sands. These may be mixed schools with Nannoperca oxleyana and Pseudomugil mellis. This omnivorous species feeds mainly from the surface, and its diet consists of crustaceans, aquatic and terrestrial insects, pollen, algae and organic detritus. It is sexually dimorphic; the males are more brightly-coloured than the females with an elongated second ray in the second dorsal fin and an elongated anal fin. When breeding, the males develop a red nuptial stripe which runs from the snout to the second dorsal fin. The males are territorial and defend their territories from other males. Over a period of several days, the females lay eggs which stick to aquatic plants by an adhesive thread on the outside of each egg. The larvae hatch after a week to ten days. In the aquarium they reach sexual maturity between 9–12 months old and may have a lifespan of up to 4 years. The spawning season runs from November to January.
