Head to head
Turquoise Rainbowfish vs Celebes Rainbowfish
Turquoise Rainbowfish
VS Celebes Rainbowfish
The turquoise rainbowfish and the celebes rainbowfish both hail from the Indonesia-New Guinea region, but one is confined to a single lake and classified Vulnerable, while the other is distinctive enough to belong to its own genus and remains secure.
| Turquoise Rainbowfish | Celebes Rainbowfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Melanotaenia lacustris | Marosatherina ladigesi |
| Colouring | Solid vivid turquoise-blue | Pale yellow body with blue-black fin trim |
| Fins | Not unusually elongated | Unusually long, flag-like fins |
| Genus | Melanotaenia | Its own genus, Marosatherina |
| Native range | Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea | The island of Sulawesi, Indonesia |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Social structure | Schooling fish | Schooling fish |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Turquoise Rainbowfish vs Celebes Rainbowfish: common questions
Which rainbowfish has unusually long fins, the turquoise or the celebes?
The celebes rainbowfish, which has unusually long, flowing dorsal and anal fins, a feature not shared by the turquoise rainbowfish.
Which is more at risk, the turquoise or the celebes rainbowfish?
The turquoise rainbowfish, which is Vulnerable due to its dependence on a single lake in Papua New Guinea, while the celebes rainbowfish remains Least Concern.
Are the turquoise and celebes rainbowfish found in the same country?
No, the turquoise rainbowfish is native to Lake Kutubu in Papua New Guinea, while the celebes rainbowfish is native to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.