The goldiei group of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from the Birds Neck region of New Guinea (Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesia) with descriptions of five new species and recognition of Melanotaenia dumasi Weber.

Genetic investigations reveal the closely-related ¿Goldiei¿ group of melanotaeniids from the Birds Neck region of western New Guinea contains at least six species, including five new taxa, which are described herein. Members of this group share a wide range of morphological and meristic features and lack notable differences, although discrepancies in modal or average values are sometimes useful. Due to their great similarity, the species in this group are most reliably distinguished on the basis of genetic differences and their allopatric geographic distributions. Three of the new species, including M. bowmani, M. grunwaldi, and M. mamahensis, represent the first descriptions of this southern New Guinea lineage from northern drainages. The ancestral species possibly colonised northward via the Omba- Woromi corridor, a low elevation (to 160 m) area linking the respective southern and northern drainages. The remaining three species, including the previously described M. dumasiWeber (previously considered a synonym of M. goldiei) from the Yamur Lake area and two new taxa, M. etnaensis and M. lacunosa from the vicinity of Etna Bay, inhabit southern drainages.