Head to head
Boesemani Rainbowfish vs Turquoise Rainbowfish
The boesemani rainbowfish and the turquoise rainbowfish are both confined to a single lake each in the New Guinea region, but they show off very different colour patterns and face slightly different levels of conservation risk.
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Turquoise Rainbowfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Melanotaenia boesemani | Melanotaenia lacustris |
| Colouring | Sharp split, blue-grey front, orange-yellow rear | Solid vivid turquoise-blue |
| Native range | Lake Ayamaru, West Papua, Indonesia | Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea |
| Social structure | Schooling fish | Schooling fish |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Sexual dimorphism | Males more vividly coloured | Males more vividly coloured |
| Single-lake endemic | Yes | Yes |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Vulnerable |
Boesemani Rainbowfish vs Turquoise Rainbowfish: common questions
How do the colours of the boesemani and turquoise rainbowfish differ?
The boesemani rainbowfish shows a sharp colour split along its body, blue-grey toward the front and vivid orange-yellow toward the rear, while the turquoise rainbowfish displays a more uniform, solid turquoise-blue colouring throughout.
Which is more endangered, the boesemani or the turquoise rainbowfish?
The boesemani rainbowfish, which is Endangered, faces a somewhat more urgent conservation outlook than the turquoise rainbowfish, which is listed as Vulnerable.
Are both the boesemani and turquoise rainbowfish confined to a single lake?
Yes, each species is restricted to one lake, the boesemani rainbowfish to Lake Ayamaru in West Papua, Indonesia, and the turquoise rainbowfish to Lake Kutubu in Papua New Guinea.