Poecilia vivipara

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Southern molly
Male (top) and female (bottom)

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Poecilia
Species:
P. vivipara
Binomial name
Poecilia vivipara
Schneider
, 1801
Synonyms
  • Poecilia surinamensis (Valenciennes, 1821)[2]
  • Poecilia unimaculata (Valenciennes, 1821)[2]

Poecilia vivipara, sometimes called the southern molly, is a small

native range to control mosquito populations and is occasionally kept in home aquariums
.

Taxonomy

P. vivipara belongs to the Poecilia subgenus of the genus Poecilia[3] and is the type species of the genus.[4] The species most closely related to it are P. parae and P. picta, which belong to the Micropoecilia subgenus.[3]

Description

P. vivipara is a small

freshwater populations and other populations is the high level of predation to which freshwater populations are exposed; such correlation between body size and predation pressure is usual among livebearers.[7]

Males do not exhibit bright color spots other than passing orange coloration in the throat region, which occurs more frequently in specimens from lagoon environments. Females are larger than males but the sexes do not otherwise differ as much as in the related common guppy, P. reticulata.[7]

Distribution

P. vivipara was originally described from Suriname.

Orinoco River in Venezuela through Brazil to Uruguay.[2][9] P. vivipara is one of the most common fish species in Brazil's lagoon ecosystems.[10] Whether the species's range extends south to Argentina, specifically the Río de la Plata region, is contentious.[4]

P. vivipara may have been

saltwater makes it possible that the fish colonized the area naturally.[9]

Habitat

Habitat at Fernando de Noronha

P. vivipara mainly inhabits lentic (standing) waters such as canals and drainage ditches at the edges of swamps.

aquatic plants are typically absent from saltwater sites. The species is highly tolerant of other environmental extremes as well, especially temperature, allowing it to occupy a variety of lentic habitats.[7]

Ecology

P. vivipara is

insect larvae.[3][12] Due to preying on mosquito larvae, P. vivipara has been used to control mosquito populations in ponds and reservoirs.[11]

P. vivipara may be

definitive host.[10]

In freshwater habitats the main predator of P. vivipara is

Geophagus brasiliensis and Australoheros facetus, which have been observed preying on young but not adult P. vivipara in laboratory settings.[7]

Reproduction

A male from Fernando de Noronha

Males are particularly lively and approach females not just of their own species but also of other Poeciliinae species.[11] Unlike the common guppy, P. vivipara males rely on opportunistic (sneak and chase) matings rather than courtship displays. Due to this strategy, sexual selection favors smaller males.[7]

P. vivipara is

deliver 6–10 fry,[11] but the number may exceed 100.[2] Larger females produce more young.[7][8] The fry, which follow the mother for the first few hours,[11] are approximately 6 mm long at birth.[2] The fish reach sexual maturity at the age of 3–4 months.[2]

In aquarium

The species is peaceful and suitable for a community aquarium but it requires hard water and does best with a dose of salt and a soft bottom. It readily feeds on flake food, algae, and small live food.[2]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T186944A1820729.en
    . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-3-88244-052-2
    . Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. ^
    doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blz045
    . Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b Koerber, Stefan; Litz, Thomas O. (2014). "On the erroneous records of Poecilia vivipara from Argentina". Ichthyological Contributions of PecesCriollos. 33 (1–4). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^
    PMID 25471469
    .
  6. doi:10.1111/jai.12275
    . Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  7. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2007.00945.x
    . Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01653.x
    .
  9. ^
    PMID 29674897
    .
  10. ^
    PMID 21070790
    .
  11. ^
    doi:10.1111/jai.12275
    . Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  12. ^ Andrade, H. T. A.; Nascimento, R. S. S.; Gurel, H. C. B.; Medeiros, J. F. (2000). "Simuliidae (Diptera) in the diet of Poecilia vivipara Block & Schneider, 1801 (Atheriniformes; Poecilidae) at the Ceará-Mirim river, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil". Entomologia y Vectores. 7 (1): 119–122.
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