More recently Glynn Ayland sent me some M. eachamensis from the CREB Track
that were very colourful and looked a lot like "Utchees" even from a small
size. I hope the Bureaucrats don't start blaming aquarists for causing the
"hybrids" :-)
Thanks for this interesting snippet Adrian.
----------
> From: Adrian R. Tappin <atappin at ecn.net.au>
> To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
> Subject: [RML] Eachamensis update
> Date: Tuesday, 6 May 1997 15:12
>
> Recent research using a range of morphological and meristic characters
has
> found that M.eachamensis is widespread in the wet tropics area of north
> Queensland and has also been found in the Tully and Herbert Rivers
> drainages. Studies of the Utchee Creek rainbowfish found that most are
> phenotypically indistinguishable from M.eachamensis.
>
> Many specimens in the study exhibited an intermediate set of characters
> suggesting that hybridisation between M.splendida splendida and
> M.eachamensis may be common place if intermediate body morphologies are
> indicative of hybrids. It has been suggested that hybridisation between
> these two species is part of the evolutionary process and should be
allowed
> to run its course.
>
> "Distribution of the Lake Eacham Rainbowfish in the Wet Tropics Region,
> North Queensland" Australian Journal of Zoology; 1997, 45, 75-84."