Overview
Poeciliidae is a family of fresh-water which are live-bearing aquarium fish (they give birth to live young). They belong to the order Cyprinodontiformes, tooth-carps, and include well-known aquarium fish like the guppy, molly, platy, and swordtail. The original distribution of the family was South eastern United States to North of Rio de la Plata Argentina, and central and southern Africa, including Madagascar. However, due to release of aquarium specimens and the widespread use of species of the genera Poecilia and Gambusia for mosquito control, poeciliids can today be found in all tropical and subtropical areas of the world.
Live-Bearing
Although the whole family Poeciliidae is known as "live bearers", there are in the family both true live-bearing "ovoviviparous" species, which have internal fertiliza tion and the eggs hatch before being laid, so that the female gives birth to live young, and egg-scattering species with external fertilization. All African species are egg-layers, and (with the exception of the members of the genus Tomeurus) all American species are livebearers. This distribution suggests that Poeciliidae predate the split between Africa and South America 100 million years ago, that live-bearing subsequently evolved in south America, and that north-America was colonized by poeciliids following the formation of the isthmus of Panama 3 million years ago.
Among the live-bearing species there are differences in the mode and degree of support the female gives the developing larvae; although many members of the family Poeciliidae are considered to be lecitrophic (meaning that the mother provisions the oocyte with all the resources it needs prior to fertilization, so that the egg is independent of the mother), but others are matrotrophic (literally means "mother feeding": the mother provides the majority of resources to the developing offspring after fertilization).
Members of the genus Poeciliopsis, for example, show variable reproductive life history adaptations. Poeciliopsis monacha, P. lucida, and P. prolifica form part of the same clade within the genus Poeciliopsis. However, their modes of maternal provisioning vary greatly. P. monacha can be considered to be lecitrophic because it does not really provide any resources for its offspring after fertilization - the pregnant female is basically a swimming egg sac. P. lucida shows an intermediate level of matrotrophy, meaning that to a certain extent the offspring's metabolism can actually affect the mother's metabolism, allowing for increased nutrient exchange. Poeciliopsis prolifica is considered to be highly matrotrophic, and almost all of the nutrients and materials needed for fetal development are supplied to the oocyte after it has been fertilized.
Poeciliopsis elongata, P. turneri, and P. presidionis form another clade which could be considered an outgroup to the P. monacha/P.lucida/P.prolifica clade. These three species are very highly matrotrophic - so much so that in 1947 C. L. Turner described the follicular cells of P. turneri as "pseudo-placenta, pseudo-chorion, and pseudo-allantois".
Photos
Taxonomy
The Family Poeciliidae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (3): Aplocheilichthyinae · Fluviphylacinae · Poeciliinae
- Genus (49): Alfaro · Aplocheilichthys · Aulophallus · Belonesox · Brachyrhaphis · Carlhubbsia · Cnesterodon · Fluviphylax · Gambosia · Gambusia · Girardinus · Glaridichthys · Haplochilus · Heterandria · Heterophallus · Hylopanchax · Hypsopanchax · Laciris · Lacustricola · Lamprichthys · Lebistes · Limia · Micropanchax · Micropoecilia · Mollienesia · Mollienisia · Neoheterandria · Pamphorichthys · Pantanodon · Phallichthys · Phalloceros · Phalloptychus · Phallotorynus · Plataplochilus · Poecilia · Poeciliopsis · Poecilistes · Poropanchax · Priapella · Priapichthys · Procatopus · Pseudopoecilia · Quintana · Rhexipanchax · Scolichthys · Tomeurus · Xenodexia · Xenophallus · Xiphophorus
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 633 species and subspecies in the Family Poeciliidae.
Genera
Alfaro
Aplocheilichthys
Aplocheilichthys is a genus of in the Poeciliidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Aulophallus
Belonesox
Brachyrhaphis
Carlhubbsia
Cnesterodon
Fluviphylax
Gambosia
Gambusia
Gambusia is a genus of in family Poeciliidae (order Cyprinodontiformes). Most Gambusia species are principally found in freshwater habitats though some species may also be found in brackish or saltwater habitats. The type species is the Cuban gambusia, Gambusia punctata). Gambusia species are often called topminnows or simply gambusias; they are also known as mosquitofish, which, however, refers more specifically to one species, G. affinis.They are very important in aquarium trade, desired for small size, ease of breeding, and charming gracefulness. They are viviparous-they have live young. [more]
Girardinus
Glaridichthys
Haplochilus
Heterandria
Heterophallus
Hylopanchax
Hypsopanchax
Hypsopanchax is a genus of in the Poeciliidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Laciris
Lacustricola
Lamprichthys
Lamprichthys is a genus of in the Poeciliidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Lebistes
Limia
Limia is a genus of freshwater fishes belonging to the cyprinodontiform family Poeciliidae, which includes other livebearers such as platys, swordtails (genus Xiphophorous), guppies and mollies (genus Poecilia). Limias are found on the islands of the Greater Antilles, with 22 species on Hispaniola and single endemic species on the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Jamaica. Limias are popular in aquaria among more advanced hobbyists. [more]
Micropanchax
Micropoecilia
Micropoecilia is a genus of . One species of the genus is Micropoecilia picta, also known as the swamp or painted guppy. [more]
Mollienesia
Mollienisia
Neoheterandria
Pamphorichthys
Pantanodon
Pantanodon is a genus of in the Poeciliidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Phallichthys
Phalloceros
Phalloceros is a of livebearer fish. [more]
Phalloptychus
Phallotorynus
Plataplochilus
Poecilia
Poecilia is a of brackish water fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The type species is P. vivipara. Live-bearers, the Poecilia species are collectively known as mollies, with the exception of Endler's livebearer (P. wingei) and the famous guppy (P. reticulata). Members of this genus are members of the family Poecilidae, which includes the southern platyfish or "platy" (Xiphophorus maculatus), and the green swordtail (X. hellerii). [more]
Poeciliopsis
Poeciliopsis is a genus of in the Poeciliidae family. [more]
Poecilistes
Poropanchax
Priapella
Priapella is a genus of in the Poeciliidae family. [more]
Priapichthys
Procatopus
Pseudopoecilia
Quintana
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Rhexipanchax
Scolichthys
Tomeurus
Xenodexia
Xenophallus
Xiphophorus
Xiphophorus is a of freshwater fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The type species is X. hellerii, the green swordtail. Members of the genus Xiphophorus are Live-bearers, meaning that they reproduce via internal fertilization. The Xiphophorus species are often collectively called swordtails, but in the aquarium trade that name typically refers specifically to X. hellerii. [more]
At least 63 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xiphophorus.
More info about the Genus Xiphophorus may be found here.
References
- "Poeciliidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. October 2004 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2004.
- Poeciliidae (TSN 165876). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 4 June 2004.
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes material from Wikipedia retrieved Thursday, August 13, 2009.
- The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
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