Poecilia reticulata

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes

Common Names

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Description

Family Poeciliidae

Distribution: low altitudes from eastern United States to northeastern Argentina; also in Africa and Madagascar. Reported to occur in salt waters in coastal areas (Ref. 13498) (Ref. 26130). Pectoral fins placed high on side of body; anterior placement of pelvic fins; pleural ribs on the first several haemal arches; ventral hyphyral forms a bony cap over the anterior facet of the anterior ceratohyal; supraorbital pores modified such that neuromasts are found embedded in fleshy grooves . Gonopodium present or absent. Some species with all-female individuals, their eggs capable of developing when stimulated by the sperm of another species without fertilization. Usually less than 18 cm maximum length . The Fluviophylacine and the Aplocheilichthyinae that were formerly placed in the Cyprinodontidae are now placed here, thus changing the livebearers to subfamily rank Poeciliinae.The family Poeciliidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes ) and the Order Cyprinodontiformes. It contains 30 genera and 293 species. It may be found in Brackish , and Freshwater environments and is primarily Secondary freshwater. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are mixed. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. This family may be found from 44° n to 38° s and 115° w to 50° e. Etymology of this family name : Greek, poikilos = with different colours

Physical Description

Habitat

Occurs in warm springs and their effluents , weedy ditches and canals (Ref. 5723). Found in various habitats , ranging from highly turbid water in ponds , canals and ditches at low elevations to pristine mountain streams at high elevations (Ref. 11225). Has a wide salinity range but requires fairly warm temperatures (23-24 ¦C) and quiet vegetated water for survival (Ref. 7248).

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,500 meters (0 to 11,483 feet).Mean = -1,959.870 meters (-6,430.020 feet), Standard Deviation = 2,657.360 based on 70 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Fresh water , brackish water. Benthopelagic.

Biology

Diet

Feeds on zooplankton , small insects and detritus .

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Acanthophacelus guppii (Günther, 1866)
2. Acanthophacelus reticulatus (Peters, 1859)
3. Girardinus guppii Günther, 1866
4. Girardinus reticulatus (Peters, 1859)
5. Haridichthys reticulatus (Peters, 1859)
6. Heterandria guppyi (Günther, 1866)
7. Lebistes poecilioides De Filippi, 1861
8. Lebistes poeciloides De Filippi, 1861
9. Lebistes reticulatus (Peters, 1859)
10. Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859
11. Poecilia reticulatus Peters, 1859
12. Poecilioides reticulatus (Peters, 1859)

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 15-May-2002

Similar Species

Members of the genus Poecilia

There are approximately 62 species in this genus:

P. amazonica · P. animaculata · P. bella · P. boesemani · P. butleri (Pacific Molly) · P. catemaconis (Bicolor Molly) · P. caucana (South American Molly) · P. caudofasciata · P. chica (Dwarf Molly) · P. dauli · P. decem-maculata · P. elegans (Elegant Molly) · P. formosa (Amazon Molly) · P. gillii (Molly) · P. hispaniolana (Hispaniola Molly) · P. hybrid · P. koperi · P. kykesis · P. latapinna · P. latipinna (Sailfin Mollie) · P. latipunctata (Broadspotted Molly) · P. marcellinoi · P. maylandi (Balsas Molly) · P. mechthildae · P. melanonotata · P. mexicana (Atlantic Molly) · P. mexicana limantouri · P. mexicana mexicana · P. michaellsmithi · P. montana · P. multiliniara · P. nelsoni · P. nicholsi · P. nigrita · P. occidentalis · P. ornata · P. orri (Mangrove Molly) · P. petenensis (Peten Molly) · P. poecilia sphenops · P. poecilioides · P. reticualta · P. reticulata (Barbados Millions) · P. salvatoris · P. schenops · P. sphaenops · P. spheanops · P. sphenops (Black Mollie) · Aplocheilichthys spilauchen · P. splendens · P. sulphuraria (Molly Del Teapa) · P. teresae (Mountain Molly) · Aphanius apodus · P. tropica · P. vandepolli · P. vandepolli arubensis · P. velifera (Giant Sailfin) · P. versicolor · P. vetiprovidentiae · P. vivipara (Guppy) · P. vivipara parae · P. wandae · P. zonata

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

Contributors

• Amaoka, Kunio (from FishBase).
• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 19, 2007.
• FishBase 2006.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 10 providers.
• MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 18, 2008.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• Canadian Museum of Nature: Canadian Museum of Nature Fish Collection
• Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates: Fish Collection
• FishBase: FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• GBIF-Sweden: Fishes (NRM)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Canadian Museum of Nature - Fish Collection (OBIS Canada)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity - Fish Collection (AfrOBIS)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: MCZ Fish Collection
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums
• Royal Ontario Museum: Fish specimens
• UNIBIO, IBUNAM: CNPE/Coleccion Nacional de Peces
• University of Kansas Biodiversity Research Center: Fish Collection

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 5591084
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-30500
• Fishbase Species ID: 3228
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 117075
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 165903
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: AFCNC04040
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 121165

Footnotes

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