Poecilia Bloch & J.G.Schneider, 1801
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Classification
- genus
- Poecilia
Abstract
Poecilia is a genus of fishes in the family Poeciliidae of the order Cyprinodontiformes. These livebearers are native to fresh, brackish and salt water in the Americas, and some species in the genus are euryhaline. A few have adapted to living in waters that contain high levels of toxic hydrogen sulfide ()Palacios, Arias-Rodriguez, Plath, Eifert, Lerp, Lamboj, Voelker, & Tobler (2013). The Rediscovery of a Long Described Species Reveals Additional Complexity in Speciation Patterns of Poeciliid Fishes in Sulfide Springs. PLoS ONE 8(8): e71069. and a population of P. mexicana lives in caves (other populations of this species are surface-living).Plath; Heubel; García de León; & Schlupp (2005). Cave molly females (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei) like well-fed males. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 58: 144–151. Some common and widespread species are often kept as aquarium fish, while other have very small ranges and are seriously threatened. All species in Poecilia are called mollies except for the Endler's livebearer (P. wingei) and the well-known guppy (P. reticulata) which have a distinctly different body shape from the rest of the genus. Micropoecilia has been proposed to be included as a subgenus of Poecilia.Bragança, P. H. N. and W. J. E. M. Costa (2011): Poecilia sarrafae, a new poeciliid from the Paraíba and Mearim river basins, northeastern Brazil (Cyprinodontiformes: Cyprinodontoidei). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 21 (no. 4) [Dec. 2010]: 369–376.
Aquaria
Fish of this genus have extremely variable coloration and have been selectively bred to create many different varieties. The most commonly kept species are guppies (P. reticulata), mollies (P. sphenops or P. latipinna), and Endler's livebearers (P. wingei). Members of the genus readily hybridize with each other and so most commercially offered fish are hybrids (with guppies having some Endler, and mollies being a mix of common and sailfin mollies). They are easy to sex as males have a prominent gonopodium, a modified anal fin used to inseminate females. They mature quickly and breed readily, with females giving birth to a dozen or more fry every month. Poecilids are cannibalistic and will eat any of their fry that are unable to flee in time (with females often eating the fry they just gave birth to, especially in a cramped aquarium setting).
Etymology, taxonomy and history
Franz Steindachner first described the species in 1863. Poecilia refers to the Greek word poikilos, which means "with a lot of colours". Common names include "shortfin molly" and "Atlantic molly." The type specimen was found in Orizaba, Mexico.
Gallery
File:Dalmatian molly.jpg|A male Dalmatian molly in a community aquarium File:Malemolly2.jpg|A male black molly File:Poecilia vivipara.png|''Poecilia vivipara'' File:Guppy - Poecilia reticulata.jpg|A female guppy (''Poecilia reticulata'') File:Poecilia reticulata (male).JPG|A male guppy
Species
The 40 currently recognized species in this genus are:
Poecilia boesemani Poeser, 2003 Poecilia butleri D. S. Jordan, 1889 (Pacific molly) Poecilia catemaconis R. R. Miller, 1975 (Catemaco molly) Poecilia caucana (Steindachner, 1880) (Cauca molly) Poecilia caudofasciata (Regan, 1913) Poecilia chica R. R. Miller, 1975 (dwarf molly) Poecilia dauli M. K. Meyer & Radda, 2000 Poecilia dominicensis (Evermann & H. W. Clark, 1906) Poecilia elegans (Trewavas, 1948) (elegant molly) Poecilia formosa (Girard, 1859) (Amazon molly) Poecilia gillii (Kner, 1863) Poecilia hispaniolana Rivas, 1978 (Hispaniola molly)Lyons, T.J. & Rodríguez-Silva, R. 2021. Poecilia hispaniolana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T125979833A125986583. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T125979833A125986583.en. Downloaded on 28 April 2021. Poecilia hondurensis Poeser, 2011 Poecilia kempkesi Poeser, 2013Poeser, F.N. (2013): Apropos Guppys... viviparos, Das Lebendgebärenden Magazin, (11) 1: 36-40, 56. (In German) Poecilia koperi Poeser, 2003 Poecilia kykesis Poeser, 2002 Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821) (sailfin molly) Poecilia latipunctata Meek, 1904 (broadspotted molly) Poecilia marcellinoi Poeser, 1995 Poecilia maylandi M. K. Meyer, 1983 (Balsas molly) Poecilia mechthildae M. K. Meyer, Etzel & Bork, 2002 Poecilia mexicana Steindachner, 1863 (shortfin molly) Poecilia nicholsi (G. S. Myers, 1931) Poecilia obscura Schories, M. K. Meyer & Schartl, 2009 Poecilia orri Fowler, 1943 (mangrove molly) Poecilia parae C. H. Eigenmann, 1894 Poecilia petenensis Günther, 1866 (Peten molly) Poecilia reticulata W. K. H. Peters, 1859 (guppy) Poecilia rositae M. K. Meyer, K. Schneider, Radda, B. Wilde & Schartl, 2004 Poecilia salvatoris Regan, 1907 (Liberty molly) Poecilia sarrafae Bragança & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2011 Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 (black molly) Poecilia sulphuraria (Álvarez, 1948) (sulphur molly) Poecilia teresae D. W. Greenfield, 1990 (mountain molly) Poecilia vandepolli van Lidth de Jeude, 1887 Poecilia velifera (Regan, 1914) (Yucatán molly) Poecilia vivipara Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801 Poecilia waiapi Bragança, W. J. E. M. Costa & Gama, 2012 Poecilia wandae Poeser, 2003 Poecilia wingei Poeser, Kempkes & Isbrücker, 2005 (Endler's guppy, Endler's livebearer)
If Poecilia in the wider sense is used then the species would be divided up into subgenera as follows:
Poecilia Bloch & Schneider 1801 Poecilia (Poecilia) vivipara Acanthophacelus Eigenmann 1907 Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) kempkesi Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) obscura Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) reticulata Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) wingei Allopoecilia Hubbs 1924 Poecilia (Allopoecilia) caucana Poecilia (Allopoecilia) dauli Curtipenis Rivas & Myers 1950 Poecilia (Curtipenis) elegans Limia Poey 1854 Poecilia (Limia) caudofasciata Poecilia (Limia) caymanensi Poecilia (Limia) dominicensis Poecilia (Limia) fuscomaculata Poecilia (Limia) garnieri Poecilia (Limia) grossidens Poecilia (Limia) immaculata Poecilia (Limia) melanogaster Poecilia (Limia) melanonotata Poecilia (Limia) miragoanensis Poecilia (Limia) nicholsi Poecilia (Limia) nigrofasciata Poecilia (Limia) ornata Poecilia (Limia) pauciradiata Poecilia (Limia) perugiae Poecilia (Limia) rivasi Poecilia (Limia) sulphurophila Poecilia (Limia) tridens Poecilia (Limia) versicolor Poecilia (Limia) vittata Poecilia (Limia) yaguajali Poecilia (Limia) zonata Micropoecilia Hubbs 1926 Poecilia (Micropoecilia) bifurca Poecilia (Micropoecilia) branneri Poecilia (Micropoecilia) minima Poecilia (Micropoecilia) parae Poecilia (Micropoecilia) picta Poecilia (Micropoecilia) sarrafae Poecilia (Micropoecilia) waiapi Mollienesia Lesueur 1821 Poecilia (Mollienesia) boesemani Poecilia (Mollienesia) butleri Poecilia (Mollienesia) catemaconis Poecilia (Mollienesia) chica Poecilia (Mollienesia) formosa Poecilia (Mollienesia) gillii Poecilia (Mollienesia) hondurensis Poecilia (Mollienesia) koperi Poecilia (Mollienesia) kykesis Poecilia (Mollienesia) latipinna Poecilia (Mollienesia) latipunctata Poecilia (Mollienesia) limantouri Poecilia (Mollienesia) marcellinoi Poecilia (Mollienesia) maylandi Poecilia (Mollienesia) mechthildae Poecilia (Mollienesia) mexicana Poecilia (Mollienesia) nelsoni Poecilia (Mollienesia) orri Poecilia (Mollienesia) petenensis Poecilia (Mollienesia) rositae Poecilia (Mollienesia) salvatoris Poecilia (Mollienesia) sphenops Poecilia (Mollienesia) sulphuraria Poecilia (Mollienesia) teresae Poecilia (Mollienesia) thermalis Poecilia (Mollienesia) vandepolli Poecilia (Mollienesia) velifera Poecilia (Mollienesia) wandae Pseudolimia Poeser 2002 Poecilia (Pseudolimia) heterandria Psychropoecilia Myers 1935 Poecilia (Psychropoecilia) hispaniolana Poecilia (Psychropoecilia) montana
Poecilia boesemani Poeser, 2003 Poecilia butleri D. S. Jordan, 1889 (Pacific molly) Poecilia catemaconis R. R. Miller, 1975 (Catemaco molly) Poecilia caucana (Steindachner, 1880) (Cauca molly) Poecilia caudofasciata (Regan, 1913) Poecilia chica R. R. Miller, 1975 (dwarf molly) Poecilia dauli M. K. Meyer & Radda, 2000 Poecilia dominicensis (Evermann & H. W. Clark, 1906) Poecilia elegans (Trewavas, 1948) (elegant molly) Poecilia formosa (Girard, 1859) (Amazon molly) Poecilia gillii (Kner, 1863) Poecilia hispaniolana Rivas, 1978 (Hispaniola molly)Lyons, T.J. & Rodríguez-Silva, R. 2021. Poecilia hispaniolana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T125979833A125986583. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T125979833A125986583.en. Downloaded on 28 April 2021. Poecilia hondurensis Poeser, 2011 Poecilia kempkesi Poeser, 2013Poeser, F.N. (2013): Apropos Guppys... viviparos, Das Lebendgebärenden Magazin, (11) 1: 36-40, 56. (In German) Poecilia koperi Poeser, 2003 Poecilia kykesis Poeser, 2002 Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821) (sailfin molly) Poecilia latipunctata Meek, 1904 (broadspotted molly) Poecilia marcellinoi Poeser, 1995 Poecilia maylandi M. K. Meyer, 1983 (Balsas molly) Poecilia mechthildae M. K. Meyer, Etzel & Bork, 2002 Poecilia mexicana Steindachner, 1863 (shortfin molly) Poecilia nicholsi (G. S. Myers, 1931) Poecilia obscura Schories, M. K. Meyer & Schartl, 2009 Poecilia orri Fowler, 1943 (mangrove molly) Poecilia parae C. H. Eigenmann, 1894 Poecilia petenensis Günther, 1866 (Peten molly) Poecilia reticulata W. K. H. Peters, 1859 (guppy) Poecilia rositae M. K. Meyer, K. Schneider, Radda, B. Wilde & Schartl, 2004 Poecilia salvatoris Regan, 1907 (Liberty molly) Poecilia sarrafae Bragança & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2011 Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 (black molly) Poecilia sulphuraria (Álvarez, 1948) (sulphur molly) Poecilia teresae D. W. Greenfield, 1990 (mountain molly) Poecilia vandepolli van Lidth de Jeude, 1887 Poecilia velifera (Regan, 1914) (Yucatán molly) Poecilia vivipara Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801 Poecilia waiapi Bragança, W. J. E. M. Costa & Gama, 2012 Poecilia wandae Poeser, 2003 Poecilia wingei Poeser, Kempkes & Isbrücker, 2005 (Endler's guppy, Endler's livebearer)
If Poecilia in the wider sense is used then the species would be divided up into subgenera as follows:
Poecilia Bloch & Schneider 1801 Poecilia (Poecilia) vivipara Acanthophacelus Eigenmann 1907 Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) kempkesi Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) obscura Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) reticulata Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) wingei Allopoecilia Hubbs 1924 Poecilia (Allopoecilia) caucana Poecilia (Allopoecilia) dauli Curtipenis Rivas & Myers 1950 Poecilia (Curtipenis) elegans Limia Poey 1854 Poecilia (Limia) caudofasciata Poecilia (Limia) caymanensi Poecilia (Limia) dominicensis Poecilia (Limia) fuscomaculata Poecilia (Limia) garnieri Poecilia (Limia) grossidens Poecilia (Limia) immaculata Poecilia (Limia) melanogaster Poecilia (Limia) melanonotata Poecilia (Limia) miragoanensis Poecilia (Limia) nicholsi Poecilia (Limia) nigrofasciata Poecilia (Limia) ornata Poecilia (Limia) pauciradiata Poecilia (Limia) perugiae Poecilia (Limia) rivasi Poecilia (Limia) sulphurophila Poecilia (Limia) tridens Poecilia (Limia) versicolor Poecilia (Limia) vittata Poecilia (Limia) yaguajali Poecilia (Limia) zonata Micropoecilia Hubbs 1926 Poecilia (Micropoecilia) bifurca Poecilia (Micropoecilia) branneri Poecilia (Micropoecilia) minima Poecilia (Micropoecilia) parae Poecilia (Micropoecilia) picta Poecilia (Micropoecilia) sarrafae Poecilia (Micropoecilia) waiapi Mollienesia Lesueur 1821 Poecilia (Mollienesia) boesemani Poecilia (Mollienesia) butleri Poecilia (Mollienesia) catemaconis Poecilia (Mollienesia) chica Poecilia (Mollienesia) formosa Poecilia (Mollienesia) gillii Poecilia (Mollienesia) hondurensis Poecilia (Mollienesia) koperi Poecilia (Mollienesia) kykesis Poecilia (Mollienesia) latipinna Poecilia (Mollienesia) latipunctata Poecilia (Mollienesia) limantouri Poecilia (Mollienesia) marcellinoi Poecilia (Mollienesia) maylandi Poecilia (Mollienesia) mechthildae Poecilia (Mollienesia) mexicana Poecilia (Mollienesia) nelsoni Poecilia (Mollienesia) orri Poecilia (Mollienesia) petenensis Poecilia (Mollienesia) rositae Poecilia (Mollienesia) salvatoris Poecilia (Mollienesia) sphenops Poecilia (Mollienesia) sulphuraria Poecilia (Mollienesia) teresae Poecilia (Mollienesia) thermalis Poecilia (Mollienesia) vandepolli Poecilia (Mollienesia) velifera Poecilia (Mollienesia) wandae Pseudolimia Poeser 2002 Poecilia (Pseudolimia) heterandria Psychropoecilia Myers 1935 Poecilia (Psychropoecilia) hispaniolana Poecilia (Psychropoecilia) montana