Melanotaeniidae

Lake Wanam rainbowfish

Glossolepis wanamensis

Endemic Melanotaeniid Fish of Freshwater Basins

• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• Oceania
• Fusiform
• Small
• Tropical fish

The Lake Wanam rainbowfish (Glossolepis wanamensis) is a critically endangered species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Melanotaeniinae. It is endemic to Lake Wanam near Lae in Papua New Guinea. It has virtually disappeared from the small lake (2–3 km in diameter) due to competition from introduced, non-native tilapias, but captive populations exist.