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Maleof thevariantof
Rasboroidesvaterifloris
found syntopicwith theRedRasbora.
Female
Rasboroidesnigromarginata
.The finsare lessextensive in females,nocolordifferencesexist.
For comparison:maleRedRasbora
The research team’s first impression was
that they haddiscovered a new fish.They
shared thephotoswith fish experts of the
country and the answer was soon found.
RohanPethiyagoda– Lanka’s foremost ex-
perton fish - identified itasMeinken’sFairy
Rasbora (
Rasboroidesnigromarginata
) that
hadbeen scientificallydescribed in1957.
GermanscientistH.Meinkenhadmade this
discoverybasedonsomespecimenshe re-
ceived through the ornamental fish trade.
But although Meinken knew it was ex-
ported from Sri Lanka, he had no idea
whereexactly theoriginal populationwas;
hence the specieshad remainedamystery
for 53years.
Thisendemic fishwas thusnot included in
thecountry’s recentFreshwater fishcheck-
lists.Now itwill bemaking the tally85 fish
species.
Sri Lanka has 44 endemic freshwater fish
though this number is thus under review.
Thenew fish’s scientificLatinnameRasbo-
roides nigromarginata reflects its other di-
stinctivecharacterofhavingablackmargin
on its fin.TheFairyRasborasareendemic to
south-westernSriLankawhere they inhabit
streamsassociatedwith rainforesthabitats.
Athwelthotahasbeenawidely researched
area for freshwater fish,butMeinken’sFairy
Rasbora escaped previous researchers’
watchful eyes.Pethiyagodawhohaddone
a comprehensive freshwater fish study in
late1980said,“Although Ihadcollected fish
at thisverysame locationwhenwritingmy
book, I missed this one,”adding“it is a re-
markablediscovery.”
TheWildlifeConservationSocietyofGalle is
expected to include the
Rasboraidesnigro-
marginata
on the listofstrictlyprotected fis-
hesconsidering itsrarity.“WethinkMeinken’s
