PERTUMBUHAN, UMUR, DAN DIMORFISME SEKSUAL IKAN PELANGI ARFAK, Melanotaenia arfakensis Allen, 1990 DI SISTEM SUNGAI PRAFI, MANOKWARI, PAPUA BARAT

ABSTRACTArfak rainbow fish, Melanotaenia arfakensis is an endemic fish on several river systems in the northeastern part of the Vogelkop peninsula. This study aims to describe the growth, age at first maturity, and sexual dimorphism of this endemic fish on the Nimbai Stream and the Aimasi Stream, the Prafi River system. The fish were caught using handnet, then were measured their standard length and individual weight. Data were analyzed to estimated growth patterns, von Bertalanffy's growth rate, age at first maturity and sexual dimorphism characteristics. The results showed that male growth patterns varied, with a tendency of the increase in body length faster than that of body weight (neg…