gambusia

Gambusia
Cuban gambusia, Gambusia punctata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cyprinodontiformes Family: Poeciliidae Genus: Gambusia Poey, 1854
Species
See text.

Gambusia is a genus of fish in family Poeciliidae (order Cyprinodontiformes). Most Gambusia species are principally found in freshwater habitats though some species may also be found in brackish or saltwater habitats. The type species is the Cuban gambusia, Gambusia punctata). Gambusia species are often called topminnows or simply gambusias; they are also known as mosquitofish, which, however, refers more specifically to one species, G. affinis.They are very important in aquarium trade, desired for small size, ease of breeding, and charming gracefulness. They are viviparous-they have live young.

Nine species are listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List; one, the widemouth gambusia, G. eurystoma, is Critically Endangered; and two, the Amistad gambusia, G. amistadensis, and the San Marcos gambusia, G. georgei, are already extinct.

Species

FishBase lists 43 species:

• Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, 1853).
• Yellowfin gambusia, Gambusia alvarezi Hubbs & Springer, 1957.
• Amistad gambusia, Gambusia amistadensis Peden, 1973. Extinct.
• Blackfin gambusia, Gambusia atrora Rosen & Bailey, 1963.
• Golden gambusia, Gambusia aurata Miller & Minckley, 1970.
• Gambusia baracoana Rivas, 1944.
• Miragoane gambusia, Gambusia beebei Myers, 1935.
• Gambusia bucheri Rivas, 1944.
• Gambusia clarkhubbsi Garrett & Edwards, 2003.
• Dominican gambusia, Gambusia dominicensis Regan, 1913.
• Maya gambusia, Gambusia echeagarayi (Alvarez, 1952).
• Widemouth gambusia, Gambusia eurystoma Miller, 1975.
• Big Bend Gambusia, Gambusia gaigei Hubbs, 1929.
• Largespring gambusia, Gambusia geiseri Hubbs & Hubbs, 1957.
• San Marcos gambusia, Gambusia georgei Hubbs & Peden, 1969. Extinct.
• Clear Creek gambusia, Gambusia heterochir Hubbs, 1957.
• Hispaniolan gambusia, Gambusia hispaniolae Fink, 1971.
• Eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859.
• Crescent gambusia, Gambusia hurtadoi Hubbs & Springer, 1957.
• Spotfin gambusia, Gambusia krumholzi Minckley, 1963.
• Gambusia lemaitrei Fowler, 1950.
• Cuatrocienegas gambusia, Gambusia longispinis Minckley, 1962.
• Sleek mosquitofish, Gambusia luma Rosen & Bailey, 1963.
• Gambusia manni Hubbs, 1927.
• Robust gambusia, Gambusia marshi Minckley & Craddock, 1962.
• Striped gambusia, Gambusia melapleura (Gosse, 1851).
• Gambusia monticola Rivas, 1971.
• Gambusia myersi Ahl, 1925.
• Nicaraguan mosquitofish, Gambusia nicaraguensis Günther, 1866.
• Pecos gambusia, Gambusia nobilis (Baird & Girard, 1853).
• Panuco gambusia, Gambusia panuco Hubbs, 1926.
• Tiburon Peninsula gambusia, Gambusia pseudopunctata Rivas, 1969.
• Cuban gambusia, Gambusia punctata Poey, 1854.
• Caribbean gambusia, Gambusia puncticulata Poey, 1854.
• Forlon gambusia, Gambusia regani Hubbs, 1926.
• Mangrove gambusia, Gambusia rhizophorae Rivas, 1969.
• Blotched gambusia, Gambusia senilis Girard, 1859.
• Teardrop mosquito, Gambusia sexradiata Hubbs, 1936.
• Tex-Mex gambusia, Gambusia speciosa Girard, 1859.
• Gulf gambusia, Gambusia vittata Hubbs, 1926.
• Wray's gambusia, Gambusia wrayi Regan, 1913.
• Cayman gambusia, Gambusia xanthosoma Greenfield, 1983.
• Yucatan gambusia, Gambusia yucatana Regan, 1914.

References

• "Gambusia". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. October 2004 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2004.
• Gambusia (TSN 165877). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 12 December 2004.