Poeciliinae is a subfamily of

killifish A killifish is any of various oviparous (egg-laying) cyprinodontiform fish (including families Aplocheilidae, Cyprinodontidae, Fundulidae, Profundulidae and Valenciidae). All together, there are 1,270 species of killifish, the biggest family ...

from the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Poeciliidae The Poeciliidae are a family of freshwater fishes of the order Cyprinodontiformes, the tooth-carps, and include well-known live-bearing aquarium fish, such as the guppy, molly, platy, and swordtail. The original distribution of the family was t ...

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 Ovoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous and live-bearing viviparous reproduction. Ovoviviparous animals possess embryos that develop insi ...

Characteristics

All of the members of the subfamily Poeciliinae are ovoviviparous, i.e. they give birth to live young, except ''Tomereus'', with internal fertilisation and a large yolk in the egg. The males have the anterior rays, normally the third to fifth rays, in the anal fin elongated to form an intromittent organ called the

gonopodium Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as see ...

Habitat and distribution

The Poeciliinae are predominantly freshwater fish but some species live in brackish water, and some can even tolerate seawater. They are found in North America as far north as southern Canada, Central America and South America through to

Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and g ...

. Some of the world's most popular aquarium fish such as guppies, swordtails and mollies are from this subfamily. They have been introduced to many regions in the world, either accidentally or to control mosquitoes, and have become invasive species threatening local populations of similar, small fishes. For example, the

Eastern mosquitofish The eastern mosquitofish (''Gambusia holbrooki'') is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, ''Gambusia affinis''. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The eastern mosquitofis ...

''Gambusia holbrooki'' is considered to be one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world and is responsible for declines in small native aquatic species worldwide.

Subdivisions

The following tribes and genera are classified within the subfamily Poeciliinae: * Tribe Alfarini Hubbs, 1924 **Genus '' Alfaro''

Meek Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior that has been defined as an amalgam of righteousness, inner humility, and patience. Meekness has been contrasted with humility alone insomuch as humility simply refers to an attitude towards o ...

, 1912 * Tribe Priapellini Ghedotti, 2000 **Genus '' Priapella''

Regan The family name Regan, along with its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, and O'Reagan, is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient Gaelic ''ri'' ...

1913 * Tribe Gambusiini

Gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

, 1889 **Genus '' Belonesox'' Kner, 1860 **Genus '' Brachyrhaphis'' Regan, 1913 **Genus ''

Gambusia ''Gambusia'' is a large genus of viviparous fish in the family Poeciliidae (order Cyprinodontiformes). ''Gambusia'' contains over 40 species, most of which are principally found in freshwater habitats, though some species may also be found in b ...

'' Poey, 1854 **Genus '' Heterophallus'' Regan, 1914 * Tribe Heterandriini Hubbs, 1924 **Genus ''

Heterandria ''Heterandria'' is a genus of livebearing fishes within the family Poeciliidae. Most species occur in Guatemala and its surroundings, particularly Mexico, but the midget livebearer ('' H. formosa'') comes from the southeastern United States ...

'' Agassiz, 1853 **Genus '' Neoheterandria''

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1916 **Genus ''

Poeciliopsis ''Poeciliopsis'' is a genus of poeciliid fishes that primarily are native to Mexico and Central America. The only exceptions are ''P. turrubarensis'' where the range extends into Colombia, and ''P. occidentalis'' where the range extends into Ariz ...

'' Regan 1913 **Genus '' Priapichthys'' Regan 1913 **Genus ''

Pseudopoecilia ''Pseudopoecilia'' is a genus of small poeciliid fishes native to rivers, streams, springs, ponds and pools in the Chocó-Tumbes region in southwestern Colombia, western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Species There are currently three recogniz ...

'' Regan 1913 **Genus '' Pseudoxiphophorus'' Bleeker, 1860 **Genus '' Xenophallus'' Hubbs, 1924 * Tribe Girardini Hubbs, 1924 **Genus '' Carlhubbsia'' Whitley, 1951 **Genus ''

Girardinus ''Girardinus'' is a genus of poeciliids native to Cuba. The name of this genus honours the French zoologist Charles Frédéric Girard (1822-1895) for his work on the freshwater fish of North America. Species There are currently seven recognized ...

'' Poey, 1854 **Genus '' Quintana'' Hubbs, 1934 * Tribe Poeciliini Bonaparte, 1831 ** Genus ''

Limia ''Limia'' is a genus of livebearing fishes belonging to the Cyprinodontiform family Poeciliidae, which includes other livebearers such as platys, swordtails (genus ''Xiphophorous''), guppies and mollies (genus ''Poecilia''). They are found i ...

'' Poey, 1854 ** Genus '' Micropoecilia'' Hubbs, 1926 ** Genus ''

Pamphorichthys ''Pamphorichthys'' is a genus of poeciliids native to the Amazon, Paraguay, São Francisco and Itapicuru basins in South America. Some authorities consider ''Pamphorichthys'' to be a subgenus of ''Poecilia''. Species There are currently six r ...

'' Regan, 1913 ** Genus '' Phallichthys'' Hubbs, 1924 ** Genus ''

Poecilia ''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 livi ...

'' Bloch & Schneider, 1801 ** Genus ''

Xiphophorus ''Xiphophorus'' is a genus of euryhaline and freshwater fishes in the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes, native to Mexico and northern Central America. The many ''Xiphophorus'' species are all known as platyfish (or platies) and ...

'' Heckel, 1848 * Tribe Cnesterodontini Hubbs, 1924 ** Genus '' Cnesterodon''

Garman Garman is a surname or first name. Notable people with the name include: Sports * Ann Garman, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player * Judi Garman (born 1954), American softball coach * Mike Garman (born 1949), American baseball pla ...

, 1895 ** Genus '' Phalloceros''

Eigenmann Eigenmann is a surname. Notable persons with that surname include: * Andi Eigenmann (born 1990), Filipino actress * Carl H. Eigenmann (1863–1927), German–American ichthyologist, husband of Rosa Eigenmann * Eduardo de Mesa Eigenmann, birth name ...

, 1907 ** Genus ''

Phalloptychus ''Phalloptychus'' is a genus of poeciliids native to eastern and southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Maximum length for a male is around 2.5cm, while females are around 3.5-4cm at maximum length Species There are curre ...

'' Eigenmann, 1907 ** Genus '' Phallotorynus'' Henn, 1916 ** Genus ''

Tomeurus ''Tomeurus gracilis'' is a species of poeciliid fish native to South America, in Brazil, Surinam and Venezuela. This species grows to a length of TL. It is the only known member of its genus. This species is classified in the tribe Cnesterodo ...

'' Eigenmann, 1909 * Tribe Scolichthyini

Rosen Rosen is a surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, the name deriving from the German word for roses. Notable people with this surname include: People A–H * Adam Rosen (born 1984), American-born British luger Olympian * Al Rosen (1924–2015), Amer ...

, 1967 ** Genus '' Scolichthys'' Rosen, 1967 * Tribe

Xenodexini ''Xenodexia'' is a genus of poeciliid fish. It contains the single species ''Xenodexia ctenolepis'', the Grijalva studfish, which is endemic to river basins in Guatemala where it lives in both slow- and fast-flowing waters. Females reach up to i ...

Hubbs, 1950 **Genus '' Xenodexia'' Hubbs, 1950

References

{{Taxonbar, From=Q615243 Fish subfamilies Poeciliidae Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte