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The Poeciliidae are a family of freshwater fishes of the order
Cyprinodontiformes Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, freshwater fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally in ...
, the tooth-carps, and include well-known
live-bearing aquarium fish Livebearers are aquarium fish that retain the eggs inside the body and give birth to live, free-swimming young. Among aquarium fish, livebearers are nearly all members of the family Poeciliidae and include guppies, mollies, platies and swordt ...
, such as the
guppy The guppy (), also known as millionfish and rainbow fish, is one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish and one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, like almost all ...
, molly, platy, and
swordtail ''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 ...
. The original distribution of the family was the Southeastern United States to north of Río de la Plata,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, and Africa, including Madagascar. Due to release of aquarium specimens and the widespread use of species of the genera ''
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 liv ...
'' and '' Gambusia'' for mosquito control, though, poeciliids can today be found in all tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In addition, ''Poecilia'' and ''Gambusia'' specimens have been identified in hot springs pools as far north as
Banff, Alberta Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise. At above Banff is the community with the second highest ...
.


Live-bearing

Although the whole family Poeciliidae is known as "live bearers" ( viviparous), some species are egg-scattering with external fertilization. All African species are egg-layers, and (with the exception of the members of the 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 Cnestero ...
''), all American species are live-bearers. Among the three subfamilies, the Aplocheilichthyinae are restricted to Africa, the Poeciliinae are primarily from the Americas (the only exception is the African ''
Rhexipanchax ''Rhexipanchax'' is a genus of poeciliid fishes native to tropical West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cap ...
''), and the Procatopodinae are mainly from Africa (the South American ''
Fluviphylax ''Fluviphylax'' is a genus of tiny poeciliids native to the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin, and Oyapock The Oyapock or Oiapoque (; ; ) is a long river in South America that forms most of the border between the French overseas department of F ...
'' and ''
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 recognize ...
'' are the only exceptions). This distribution suggests that the Poeciliidae antedate the split between Africa and South America 100 million years ago, and that live-bearing subsequently evolved in South America. Poeciliids colonized North America through the
Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; nl, Antillen; ht, Antiy; pap, Antias; Jamaican Patois: ''Antiliiz'') is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, the Gulf of Mex ...
, while they were connected 44 million years ago. Poeciliids then moved to Central America by the Aves land bridge on the
Caribbean Plate The Caribbean Plate is a mostly Oceanic crust, oceanic tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America. Roughly 3.2 million square kilometers (1.2 million square miles) in area, the Caribbea ...
. When South America connected to Central America three million years ago, some further dispersal southward occurred, but South American species did not move into Central America. Among the live-bearing species, differences are seen in the mode and degree of support the female gives the developing larvae. Many members of the family Poeciliidae are considered to be
lecithotrophic Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and m ...
(the mother provisions the
oocyte An oocyte (, ), oöcyte, or ovocyte is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female g ...
with all the resources it needs prior to fertilization, so the egg is independent of the mother), but others are matrotrophic (literally "mother feeding": the mother provides the majority of resources to the developing offspring after fertilization). Lecithotrophy and matrotrophy are not discrete traits. Most scientific studies quantify matrotrophy using a matrotrophy index (MI), which is the dry mass of fully developed offspring divided by the dry mass of a fertilized egg. Members of the 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 Ari ...
'', for example, show variable reproductive life history adaptations. ''
Poeciliopsis monacha ''Poeciliopsis monacha'', or the headwater livebearer, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Poeciliidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Distribution and habitat ''Poeciliopsis monacha'' is endemic to northwestern Mexico where it is present in ...
'', '' P. lucida'', and '' P. prolifica'' form part of the same clade within that genus. However, their modes of maternal provisioning vary greatly. ''P. monacha'' can be considered to be lecithotrophic because it does not really provide any resources for its offspring after fertilization - the pregnant female is basically a swimming egg sac. ''P. lucida'' shows an intermediate level of
matrotrophy Matrotrophy is a form of maternal care during organism development, associated with live birth (viviparity), in which the embryo of an animal or flowering plant is supplied with additional nutrition from the mother (e.g. through a placenta). This ...
, meaning that to a certain extent the offspring's metabolism can actually affect the mother's metabolism, allowing for increased nutrient exchange. ''P. prolifica'' is considered to be highly matrotrophic, and almost all of the nutrients and materials needed for fetal development are supplied to the oocyte after it has been fertilized. This level of matrotrophy allows ''Poeciliopsis'' to carry several broods at different stages of development, a phenomenon known as superfetation. Because the space for developing embryos is limited, viviparity reduces brood size. Superfetation can compensate for this loss by keeping embryos at various stages and sizes during development. '' P. elongata'', '' P. turneri'', and '' P. presidionis'' form another clade that could be considered an outgroup to the ''P. monacha'', ''P.lucida'', and ''P. prolifica'' clade. These three species are very highly matrotrophic - so much so that in 1947, C. L. Turner described the follicular cells of ''P. turneri'' as "pseudo-placenta, pseudo-chorion, and pseudo-allantois". The greater degree of matrotrophy in a species is linked with a higher degree of placentation, including "a thicker maternal follicle, higher degree of vascularization, and greater number of villi in the placenta". The reason for placental evolution in Poeciliids is controversial, and involves two major groups of hypotheses, adaptive and conflict hypotheses. Adaptive hypotheses, including the locomotor hypothesis, Trexler-DeAngelis Model (reproductive allotment), and life-history facilitation, broadly suggest that the placenta evolved to facilitate the evolution of another advantageous trait in the fish’s environment. The conflict hypothesis suggests the placenta is a nonadaptive byproduct of genetic "tug-o-war" between the mother and the offspring for resources.


Subfamilies and tribes

The family is divided into subfamilies and
tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to conflic ...
s as follows: * Subfamily Aplocheilichythinae
Myers Myers as a surname has several possible origins, e.g. Old French ("physician"), Old English ("mayor"), and Old Norse ("marsh"). People * Abram F. Myers (born 1889), chair of the Federal Trade Commission and later general counsel and board cha ...
, 1928
(Banded lampeyes) **Genus '' Aplocheilichthys'' Bleeker, 1863 **Genus '' Hylopanchax''
Poll Poll, polled, or polling may refer to: Figurative head counts * Poll, a formal election ** Election verification exit poll, a survey taken to verify election counts ** Polling, voting to make decisions or determine opinions ** Polling places ...
& J. G. Lambert,1958
* Subfamily Procatopodinae Fowler, 1916 (Lampeyes) ** Tribe Fluviphylacini Roberts, 1970 *** Genus ''
Fluviphylax ''Fluviphylax'' is a genus of tiny poeciliids native to the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin, and Oyapock The Oyapock or Oiapoque (; ; ) is a long river in South America that forms most of the border between the French overseas department of F ...
'' Whitley, 1920 ** Tribe Procatopodini Fowler, 1916 *** Genus '' Laciris'' Huber, 1981 *** Genus '' Micropanchax'' Myers, 1924 *** Genus '' Lacustricola'' Myers, 1924 *** Genus '' Poropanchax'' Clausen, 1967 *** Genus '' Platypanchax'' Ahl, 1928 *** Genus '' Lamprichthys''
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'' ...
1911
*** Genus '' Pantanodon'' Myers, 1955 *** Genus '' Hypsopanchax'' Myers, 1924 *** Genus '' Procatopus''
Boulenger Boulenger is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Boulenger (born 1990), French footballer * Edward George Boulenger (1888–1946), British zoologist, director of aquarium at London Zoo * George Albert Boulenger (1858– ...
, 1904
*** Genus '' Plataplochilus'' Ahl, 1928 *** Genus ''
Rhexipanchax ''Rhexipanchax'' is a genus of poeciliid fishes native to tropical West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cap ...
''
Huber Huber is a German-language surname. It derives from the German word ''Hube'' meaning hide, a unit of land a farmer might possess, granting them the status of a free tenant. It is in the top ten most common surnames in the German-speaking world, ...
, 1999
* Subfamily
Poeciliinae 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. Chara ...
Bonaparte, 1831 (Livebearers) ** 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 Gambusini Gill, 1889 ***Genus '' Belonesox'' Kner, 1860 ***Genus ''
Brachyrhaphis ''Brachyrhaphis'' is a genus of poeciliids native to freshwater habitats in Central America. Most are restricted to Panama and Costa Rica, but ''B. holdridgei'' also occurs in Nicaragua and ''B. hartwegi'' is from Mexico and Guatemala. A recent ...
'' Regan, 1913 ***Genus '' Gambusia'' Poey, 1854 ***Genus ''
Heterophallus ''Heterophallus'' is a genus of small poeciliids found near the coast in calm waters of river basins in southeastern Mexico. Species There are currently two or three recognized species in this genus: * '' Heterophallus echeagarayi'' (Álvarez, 1 ...
'' Regan, 1914 ** Tribe
Heterandriini The Heterandriini is a tribe of killifishes from the "livebearer" family Poeciliidae, consisting of seven genera and around 50 species. The tribe was originally delineated by Carl Leavitt Hubbs in 1924. Genera The genera classified in this tribe ...
Hubbs, 1924 ***Genus '' Heterandria''
Agassiz Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz ( ; ) FRS (For) FRSE (May 28, 1807 – December 14, 1873) was a Swiss-born American biologist and geologist who is recognized as a scholar of Earth's natural history. Spending his early life in Switzerland, he rec ...
, 1853
***Genus '' Neoheterandria''
Henn Henn is a both a surname and an Estonian masculine given name. Notable people with the surname include: ;As a given name: * Henn-Ants Kurg (1898–1943), Estonian military colonel and diplomat * Henn Pärn (born 1941), Estonian politician * H ...
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 Ari ...
'' 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 recognize ...
'' Regan 1913 ***Genus '' Xenophallus'' Hubbs, 1924 ** Tribe Poeciliini Bonaparte, 1831 *** Genus '' Limia'' Poey, 1854 *** Genus ''
Micropoecilia ''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''. Species There are c ...
'' Hubbs, 1926 *** Genus '' Pamphorichthys'' 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 liv ...
''
Bloch Bloch is a surname of German origin. Notable people with this surname include: A–F * (1859-1914), French rabbi *Adele Bloch-Bauer (1881-1925), Austrian entrepreneur * Albert Bloch (1882–1961), American painter * (born 1972), German motor journa ...
& Schneider, 1801
*** Genus '' Xiphophorus'' Heckel, 1848 ** Tribe
Cnesterodontini Cnesterodontini is a tribe of fishes which are within the subfamily Poeciliinae of the family Poeciliidae. This tribe is distinguished from other tribes in the Poeciliinae by the males having five rays in the pelvic fin, there is a pedicle at th ...
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 pl ...
, 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 nam ...
, 1907
*** Genus '' Phalloptychus'' 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 Cnestero ...
'' Eigenmann, 1909 ** Tribe Scolichthyini Rosen, 1967 *** Genus '' Scolichthys'' Rosen, 1967 ** Tribe Xenodexini Hubbs, 1950 ***Genus '' Xenodexia'' Hubbs, 1950


References

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q463057 Ray-finned fish families Fishkeeping Freshwater fish of Africa Freshwater fish of Central America Freshwater fish of South America Freshwater fish of Mexico Freshwater fish of the United States Live-bearing fish Ovoviviparous fish Viviparous fish Cyprinodontiformes Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte