Poecilia velifera
Yucatan Molly
Collection Details
Event Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cyprinodontiformes
Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Poecilia
Poecilia velifera (Yucatan Molly)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
Central America: Yucatán-Quintana Roo and lower Usumacinta-Laguna de Términos systems in Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish. benthopelagic.
Biology
Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Ref. 7020). Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 60 cm (Ref. 51539).
Max length: 15.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2018-03-12. Resilience: High (tm<1; multiple spawning per year).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial.
References
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch (1991) Aquarien Atlas. Band. 1. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 992 p.
Rodriguez, C.M. (1997) Phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Poeciliini (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae). Copeia 1997(4):663-679.
Lucinda, P.H.F. (2003) Poeciliidae (Livebearers). p. 555-581. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brazil.
Jelks, H.L., S.J. Walsh, N.M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D.A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N.E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J.S. Nelson, S.P. Platania, B.A. Porter, C.B. Renaud, J.J. Schmitter-Soto, E.B. Taylor and M.L. Warren Jr. (2008) Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.
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