Axelrod's rainbowfish facts for kids
The Axelrod's rainbowfish (Chilatherina axelrodi) is a beautiful type of rainbowfish. You can find it in Papua New Guinea, a country in the Pacific Ocean. This fish lives in the Yungkiri stream, which is in the northwest part of Papua New Guinea. It likes narrow streams with slow-moving, cloudy water. These streams are usually surrounded by thick, green rainforests.
Quick facts for kids Axelrod's rainbowfish |
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What Axelrod's Rainbowfish Looks Like
Male Axelrod's rainbowfish are quite colorful. Their upper body can be bluish-grey or greenish-brown. Their belly area is usually silvery-grey or whitish. They have about 10 short bars along their sides. These bars are spaced out and can form a dark stripe near their tail.
The lower part of their body might have faint, dark bars. Their back and upper sides show bluish stripes. The lower body has faint yellow stripes along each row of scales. Their top, bottom, and side fins are yellowish. Other fins are clear.
Female rainbowfish are not as colorful as the males. They are mostly silvery with no special markings. Males are also bigger and have deeper bodies than females. Males can grow up to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. Females are usually smaller, less than 8 centimeters (3 inches) long.
Where Axelrod's Rainbowfish Lives
The Axelrod's rainbowfish is only found in one place. It lives in the Yungkiri Stream. This stream is located in the Bewani Mountains. These mountains are in the Sandaun Province of northwestern Papua New Guinea.
Habitat and Life Cycle
Axelrod's rainbowfish live in small, narrow rainforest streams. They like to hide among water plants. You can also find them near sunken logs and branches. The water in these streams is often a bit cloudy.
These fish lay their eggs from October to January. Each female can lay between 50 and 150 eggs. They lay these eggs in small groups over several days.
How Axelrod's Rainbowfish Got Its Name
The Axelrod's rainbowfish was first described in 1979. A scientist named Gerald R. Allen gave it its name. He named the fish after Herbert R. Axelrod. Herbert Axelrod was a person who published books about pets. He helped pay for Allen's trip to New Guinea in 1979.
