| Black-bellied limia | |
|---|---|
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| Males | |
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| A female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Genus: | Limia |
| Species: | L. melanogaster |
| Binomial name | |
| Limia melanogaster (Günther, 1866) | |
| Synonyms | |
Poecilia melanogasterGünther, 1866 | |
Limia melanogaster, the black-bellied or blue limia, is a poeciliid fish from Jamaica. It inhabits fast-flowing streams. It is a rare livebearer in modern fishkeeping.
DNA research shows that L. melanogaster is basal to others in the genus Limia : it was the first to split from other limias, which inhabit other islands in the West Indies, around 22.8 million years ago at the Oligocene–Miocene boundary. [2]
Originally placed in the genus Limia by Albert Günther in 1866, it was transferred to the genus Poecilia along with other congeners by Donn E. Rosen and Reeve M. Bailey in their extensive reclassification of poeciliids in 1963. This was reversed by Luis R. Rivas in 1978. The name Poecilia melanogaster is therefore today considered a junior synonym. [3]
L. melanogaster is the second slimmest species in its genus after L. zonata . [4] The species is exceptionally variable. [5] The base color of the fish is greenish-gray. [6] Adults, and especially males when courting females, exhibit a metallic steel blue gloss. [4]
The male's caudal peduncle and dorsal fin are black, while the caudal fin is yellow with a black rim. [7] Male fish usually also have patches of black and sulfur-yellow scales on their heads, fins, and flanks. [6] Sexually mature females instead have a large bluish-black pigmented area around the gonopore called the gravid spot, [7] unique in the genus. [4] Such chromatic distinction from both males and juvenile females is unusual among female poeciliids. [7] Female fish grow to 5 cm (2.0 in) standard length, [8] while the males attain 4 cm (1.6 in). [9]
Limia melanogaster is endemic to Jamaica, [10] specifically the southern and western parts of the island. It has been collected in the headwaters of the Black River drainage and Blue Hole River. [4]
The species prefers fast-flowing and shallow water, usually around 50 cm (20 in) deep. It is also found in flooded areas. [4] [5] One examined habitat was a small, 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) deep stream with a muddy substrate, while the Blue Hole River habitat contains a rocky substrate. The habitats tend to contain little to no vegetation but are rich in aufwuchs. The species shares its habitat with a fellow poeciliid Gambusia wrayi and certain cichlids and gobies. [4]
L. melanogaster is omnivorous. [4] Its diet consists of worms, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. [11] Algae make up a significant portion of its diet, especially in brackish water. [4]
In captivity, females reach maturity aged between 4 and 5 months. [4] The males spend over 26 minutes per hour courting females. [7] Like many other poeciliids, L. melanogaster is ovoviparous. The gestation lasts approximately 4 weeks. Depending on her size, a female then gives birth to 20 to 80 young. The newborn fry are 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) long. Adults seldom prey on the fry. [4]
L. melanogaster is easily kept in home aquaria. [4] Neale Monks of the Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine listed L. melanogaster among seven livebearers which were more commonly kept in aquaria until the introduction of new, fancy varieties. [6] It is an agile swimmer and thus needs ample space despite its modest size. [4]
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 and a population of P. mexicana lives in caves.
Limia is a genus of livebearing fishes belonging to the Cyprinodontiform family Poeciliidae, which includes other livebearers such as platys, swordtails, guppies and mollies. They are found in fresh and brackish water. Of the 21 described Limia species, 17 are endemic to Hispaniola, one is found on both Hispaniola and Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Venezuela have an endemic species each. Limia are popular in aquaria among more advanced hobbyists.
The Cauca molly is a freshwater fish in the family Poeciliidae. This fish is found in Panama, Venezuela, and Colombia, where it lives in shallow waters in the basins of the Lebrija, Magdalena, Cauca and other rivers. P. caucana eats mosquito larvae and algae.
The humpbacked limia or black-barred limia is a critically endangered species of poeciliid fish which is endemic to Haiti. Its common name is derived from the hump males develop as they age. It is sometimes kept in home aquaria.
Poecilia velifera, known as the Yucatan molly and also as the giant sailfin molly amongst aquarists, is a large livebearer that lives in coastal waters of the Yucatan peninsula. These live-bearer (Poeciliidae) fish are particularly well known for both the extreme size variation among males, and the sexual dimorphism between males and females in both body shape and behavior.
Micropoecilia is a genus of poeciliids native to fresh and brackish water from the Amazon Basin to Trinidad. While recognized as valid by FishBase, others have considered this genus as being synonymous with Poecilia.
Heterandria formosa is a species of livebearing fish within the family Poeciliidae. This is the same family that includes familiar aquarium fishes such as guppies and mollies. Heterandria formosa is not as commonly kept in aquaria as these species. Despite the common name "least killifish", it belongs to the family Poeciliidae and not to one of the killifish families. H. formosa is one of the smallest fish species; the 1991 Baensch Aquarium Atlas listed it as the 7th smallest fish in the world, and as of 2006 it remains the smallest fish species found in North America.
Poeciliinae is a subfamily of killifish from the family Poeciliidae which contains species from the Americas which are collectively known as the livebearers because many, but not all, of the species within the subfamily are ovoviviparous.
Limia melanonotata, the blackbanded limia, is a toothcarp in the family Poeciliidae. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.
The Cuban limia, also known as banded limia, Cuban molly, Cuban topminnow or tabai is a species of livebearing freshwater fish from the family Poeciliidae. The species is native to Cuba where it was endemic but it has been introduced to Hawaii.
Limia sulphurophila, also known as sulphur limia, is a livebearing fish in the family Poeciliidae. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic in the island of Hispaniola.
Scolichthys greenwayi is a species of freshwater fish of the family Poeciliidae. It is found in flowing waters along the Rio Chixoy and Rio Salinas system in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
Limia islai, also known as the tiger limia, is a species of fish within the family Poeciliidae. This species is one of several Limia that are endemic to Lake Miragoâne, Haiti.
Xiphophorus pygmaeus, the pygmy swordtail, is a poeciliid fish from northeastern Mexico. It is the smallest of the swordtails. The male's sword is barely visible and the species is often called the swordless swordtail. It is sometimes kept in home aquaria, but is a rather delicate species.
Poecilia kykesis, also known as the Usumacinta molly, Petén molly, spiketail molly, or swordtail molly, is a poeciliid fish species native to the fresh and brackish waters of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. It belongs to the sailfin molly clade, with males exhibiting an enlarged dorsal fin. The species has a notably controversial naming history, with the former name, Poecilia petenensis, now referring to a short-finned molly species. It is a livebearer sometimes kept in aquaria.
Poecilia gillii, Gill's molly, is a herbivorous livebearer fish distributed throughout Central America. It is found in both moving and still water as well as in both freshwater and brackish habitats. Populations of this species differ in color, size, and morphology.
Poecilia chica, the dwarf molly, is a livebearer fish from the Mexican state of Jalisco. The fish are small and exceptionally colorful. The dominant male may become completely black, which is a unique ability in the Mollienesia subgenus.
Poecilia vivipara, sometimes called the southern molly, is a small euryhaline livebearer fish distributed along the Atlantic coast of South America. It is most frequently found in standing brackish water. It has been introduced outside its native range to control mosquito populations and is occasionally kept in home aquariums.
Poecilia picta, the swamp guppy, is a species of livebearer fish found in South America. It is closely related to the common guppy, P. reticulata, and shares its geographic range but tends to be found in more brackish environments.
Poecilia orri, the mangrove molly, is a brackish-water livebearer fish from Central America. Two morphs exist, differing in size, body shape, and coloring.
