Poecilia sphenops

Molly
Male molly
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Poecilia
Species:
P. sphenops
Binomial name
Poecilia sphenops
(Valenciennes, 1846)
Synonyms[2]
  • Mollienisia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846)
  • Poecilia thermalis Steindachner, 1863
  • Gambusia modesta Troschel, 1865
  • Gambusia plumbea Troschel, 1865
  • Poecilia chisoyensis Günther, 1866
  • Poecilia dovii Günther, 1866
  • Poecilia spilurus Günther, 1866
  • Platypoecilus mentalis Gill, 1877
  • Poecilia boucardii Steindachner, 1878
  • Platypoecilus nelsoni Meek, 1904
  • Platypoecilus tropicus Meek, 1907
  • Poecilia tenuis Meek, 1907
  • Poecilia spilonota Regan, 1908
  • Poecilia caudata Meek, 1909
  • Mollienesia macrura Hubbs, 1935
  • Mollienesia vantynei Hubbs, 1935
  • Mollienesia altissima Hubbs, 1936
  • Mollienesia pallida de Buen, 1943
  • Lembesseia parvianalis Fowler, 1949

Poecilia sphenops, called the molly[1][2] or Mexican molly,[2] is a poeciliid fish inhabiting freshwater streams and coastal brackish waters from Mexico to El Salvador and Honduras[1] to Colombia.[2] The wild-type fishes are dull, silvery in color. The molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. The male mollies generally tend to be mildly aggressive. Females of the species prefer an external temperature of 29°C year round, whereas males prefer an external temperature of 29.6°C in the winter, and 25.5°C in the summer.[3] This species of fish is seen to have a minimum lethal external temperature of 10.8–11.8°C, and a maximum lethal external temperature of 38.8–39.5°C when acclimated in a range of 20–35°C.[4]

Poecilia sphenops can grow to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) standard length.[2]

  1. ^ a b c Matamoros, W.A. (2019). "Poecilia sphenops". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T191753A2002434. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T191753A2002434.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference FishBase was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Hernández, M; Bückle, L F; Espina, S (2002–2010). "Temperature preference and acclimation in Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae)". Aquaculture Research. 33 (12): 933–940. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2109.2002.00744.x.
  4. ^ Hernández-Rodríguez, Mónica; Bückle-Ramirez, L. Fernando (2010). "Preference, tolerance and resistance responses of Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 (Pisces: Poeciliidae) to thermal fluctuations". Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research. 38 (3): 427–437. doi:10.3856/vol38-issue3-fulltext-7. ISSN 0718-560X.