Poecilia -- Facts, Info, and Encyclopedia article(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
The ((biology) the species that best exemplifies the essential characteristics of the genus to which it belongs) type species is P.
(Small usually brightly-colored viviparous surface-feeding fishes of fresh or brackish warm waters; often used in mosquito control) Live-bearers, the Poecilia species are collectively known as mollies, with the exception of the famous (Small freshwaterfish of South America and the West Indies; often kept in aquariums) guppy (P.
The generic name Poecilia derives from the (A native or inhabitant of Greece) Greek ποικίλος (variegated), in reference to the fishes' coloration.
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department: Sailfin Molly(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
A number of other synonyms exist, most of which are based on specimens from other areas of the sailfinmolly's rather large native range.
In a landmark work on poeciliid fishes, Donn Rosen and Reeve Bailey (1959) noted the priority of Poecilia Bloch and Schneider1801 with regards to Mollienesia Lesueur 1821, thereby relegating Mollienesia to the synonymy of Poecilia.
Consequently, the proper binomial for the sailfinmolly is Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821).
It is uncertain if they are guppies either population of Poecilia reticula or a distinct species.
You mention their not having the "big triangular veil tail", but wild guppies never have the veil tail either; veil tails are an artifact of selective breeding.
One of the first things I did when I found them in 1975 was to try to cross them with wild guppies from a few kilometers away in Venezuela, as well as with other wild stocks of guppies.
MavicaNET - Poecilia(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
The genuine generic name Poecilia came from the name vivipara because of the fact that this species is a livebearer.
In the body of the first caught Poecilia
there were eggs in a far developed stadium.
The Amazon Molly, Poecilia formosa, is a plainly marked, grey brown fish with a reticulate body pattern, in shape, form and size rather reminiscent of a
wild coloured female of Poecilia sphenops.
Being quite hardy and easy to acclimate, Poecilia Reticulata is a great fish for beginners as well as experienced hobbyist looking to create their own Fancy Guppy species.
Notes: Poecilia Reticulata is certainly the most common fish in aquariophilia.
Its easiness to keep and breed as well as its beautiful colors and shapes make it very popular in aquariums.
From Europe it spread to America, Japan and elsewhere.
Endler says that the "Endler's Livebearer" is it's own species, not a guppy (Poecilia reticulata), because, while it could be breed with the guppy (many livebearers will interbreed) but would only produce F1 hybrids.
However, they will indeed breed with guppies and produce hybrids so they should be kept separate unless this is desired.
