Poecilia sphenops

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Ovalentaria
Superordo: Atherinomorphae
Ordo: Cyprinodontiformes
Subordo: Cyprinodontoidei

Familia: Poeciliidae
Subfamilia: Poeciliinae
Tribus: Poeciliini
Genus: Poecilia
Species: P. sphenops
Name

Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846

Syntypes: MNHN B-0930 (8).

Type locality: Veracruz, Mexico.
Synonyms

Mollienisia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846)
Poecilia thermalis Steindachner, 1863
Gambusia modesta Troschel, 1865
Gambusia plumbea Troschel, 1865
Poecilia chisoyensis Günther, 1866
Poecilia dovii Günther, 1866
Poecilia spilurus Günther, 1866
Platypoecilus mentalis Gill, 1877
Poecilia boucardii Steindachner, 1878
Poecilia vandepolli arubensis van Lidth de Jeude, 1887
Platypoecilus nelsoni Meek, 1904
Platypoecilus tropicus Meek, 1907
Poecilia tenuis Meek, 1907
Poecilia spilonota Regan, 1908
Poecilia caudata Meek, 1909
Mollienesia sphenops macrura Hubbs, 1935
Mollienesia macrura Hubbs, 1935
Mollienesia sphenops vantynei Hubbs, 1935
Mollienesia vantynei Hubbs, 1935
Mollienesia sphenops altissima Hubbs, 1936
Mollienesia altissima Hubbs, 1936
Mollienesia sphenops pallida de Buen, 1943
Mollienesia pallida de Buen, 1943
Lembesseia parvianalis Fowler, 1949
Poecilia vetiprovidentiae Fowler, 1950

Vernacular names
čeština: Živorodka ostrotlamá
français: Molly
polski: molinezja ostrousta, molinezja ostropyska
svenska: Molly
References

Alda, F., Reina, R. G., Doadrio, I. & Bermingham, E.; (in press): Phylogeny and biogeography of the Poecilia sphenops species complex (Actinopterygii, Poeciliidae) in Central America. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Available online 28 December 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.12.012
Cuvier, G. & Valenciennes, A.; 1846: Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome dix-huitième. Suite du livre dix-huitième. Cyprinoïdes. Livre dix-neuvième. Des Ésoces ou Lucioïdes. 18: 1–505 + 2 pp., Pls. 520-553.
Poecilia sphenops in Catalog of Fishes, Eschmeyer, W.N., Fricke, R. & van der Laan, R. (eds.) 2024. Catalog of Fishes electronic version.

Poecilia sphenops is a species of fish, of the genus Poecilia, known under the common name molly; to distinguish it from its congeners, it is sometimes called short-finned molly or common molly. They inhabit fresh water streams, coastal brackish, and marine waters from Mexico to Colombia. The wild-type fishes are dull, silvery in color. The molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. The male mollies generally tend to be mildly aggressive.

Mollies rank as one of the most popular feeder fish due to high growth rate, birth size, reproduction, and brood number.
Biology

Mollies are similar in appearance to their livebearer cousins, the platy, swordtail and guppies; the molly tends to be slightly larger and more energetic. Many aquarists note the stronger individuality and aggression in keeping mollies versus platies, who appear much more docile.
Size

Standard size of male fish is 3.2″ (8 cm) and female fish is 4.8″ (12 cm).
Varieties

Selective breeding over centuries has produced several color variations and different body shapes.

Short-finned molly or common molly: They inhabit fresh water streams and coastal brackish and marine waters of Mexico. The wild-type fishes are dull, silvery in color. The molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. The wild form is in fact quite rarely kept, as it has a rather plain silvery coloration suffused with brown and green hues.
Black molly: It is a melanistic breed which are black all over. It is one of the most well-known aquarium fishes and nearly as easy to keep and prolific as guppies.
White molly: A white colored molly.
Golden molly: Nicknamed the "24 karat".
Balloon molly: This fish has a deformed spine due to a genetic defect that gives it its appearance. Through selective breeding it is now widely available. Balloon mollies can still reproduce and live a normal life comparable to that of other mollies, but it has garnered controversy due to the belief that its defect gives it a shortened lifespan and a susceptibility to health problems.
Lyretail: A breed with an altered caudal fin structure.
Dalmatian molly: A silver colored breed with black speckles.

References

Matamoros, W.A. (2019). "Poecilia sphenops". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T191753A2002434. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T191753A2002434.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.

Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Poeclia sphenops" in FishBase. August 2019 version.

"Poecilia sphenops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 January 2006.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2005). "Poecilia sphenops" in FishBase. 10 2005 version.
"Mollies Fish" Detailed information on raising the Molly fish. January 2022 version