Heterandria formosa: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
{{Taxobox |
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| name = Least Killifish |
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| image = Heterandria formosa adult female.png |
| image = Heterandria formosa adult female.png |
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| image_caption = |
| image_caption = Adult female |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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The ''' |
The '''Dwarf Livebearer''' ('''''Heterandria formosa''''') is a species of livebearing fish within the family [[Poeciliidae]]. This is the same family that includes familiar [[aquarium]] fishes such as [[guppy|guppies]] and [[swordtail]]s. The Dwarf Livebearer is not as commonly kept in aquaria as these species. The Dwarf Livebearer is one of the smallest fish in the world (7th smallest as of 1991)<ref name=baensch>{{cite book|title=Baensch Aquarium Atlas|author=Baensch, H.|page=pp. 592-593|year=1991|isbn=3-88244-050-3}}</ref>, and is the smallest fish found in North America.<ref name=georgia>{{cite web|title=Occurence and Distribution of ''Heterandria formosa'' in Lowndes County, Georgia|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4015/is_200601/ai_n17176579|accessdate=2008-08-10}}</ref>. It is also traded as '''"Least Killifish"''', but this is technically wrong since it does not lay eggs as [[killifish]]es do. |
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==Range and habitat== |
==Range and habitat== |
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The |
The Dwarf Livebearer is the only member of the genus ''[[Heterandria]]'' to be found in the [[United States]].<ref name=dawes>{{cite book|title=Livebearing Fishes|author=Dawes, J.|page=pp. 186-187|year=1995|isbn=0-7137-2592-3}}</ref> Its range covers southeastern United States, from [[South Carolina]] south to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Florida]], and through the Florida Gulf Coast to [[Louisiana]].<ref name=dawes/><ref name=base>{{cite web|title=Fishbase Heterandria formosa|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3224|accessdate=2008-08-10}}</ref> It is one of the few aquarium fishes to come from North America. |
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The |
The Dwarf Livebearer lives primarily in slow moving or standing [[freshwater]] but also occurs in [[brackish]] waters.<ref name=base/> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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The |
The Dwarf Livebearer is one of the smallest fish and smallest [[vertebrate]]s known to science.<ref name=dawes/> Males grow to about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches), while females grow a little larger, to about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches).<ref name=dawes/><ref name=encyc>{{cite book|title=Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium|author=Dawes, J.|page=p. 276|year=2001|isbn=1-55297-544-4}}</ref> |
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The fish is generally an olive color, with a dark horizontal stripe through the center of the body. There is also a dark spot on the [[dorsal fin]] and females also have a dark spot on their [[anal fin]]. Like most [[Poeciliidae|poeciliids]], males' anal fins are modified into a [[gonopodium]] that is used for impregnating females during mating. |
The fish is generally an olive color, with a dark horizontal stripe through the center of the body. There is also a dark spot on the [[dorsal fin]] and females also have a dark spot on their [[anal fin]]. Like most [[Poeciliidae|poeciliids]], males' anal fins are modified into a [[gonopodium]] that is used for impregnating females during mating. |
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==Diet== |
==Diet== |
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The |
The Dwarf Livebearer primarily eats [[invertebrate]]s such as [[worm]]s and [[crustacean]]s.<ref name=base/> They also eat plant matter.<ref name=base/> |
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==Breeding== |
==Breeding== |
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Like most [[Poeciliidae|poeciliids]], the |
Like most [[Poeciliidae|poeciliids]], the Dwarf Livebearer is a [[Ovoviviparity|livebearer]]. The male uses his modified anal fin, or [[gonopodium]], to deliver sperm to the female. The fertilized eggs grow within the female until they hatch, and the young are released free swimming. Dwarf Livebearer have a unique breeding strategy even among livebearers. Rather than all the young being released at once, as many as 40 fry are released over a 10 to 14 day period, but occasionally over a longer period.<ref name=dawes/><ref name=encyc/><ref name=baensch/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 22:54, 8 April 2009
| Heterandria formosa | |
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| Adult female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | H. formosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Heterandria formosa Gunther, 1874
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The Dwarf Livebearer (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 swordtails. The Dwarf Livebearer is not as commonly kept in aquaria as these species. The Dwarf Livebearer is one of the smallest fish in the world (7th smallest as of 1991)[1], and is the smallest fish found in North America.[2]. It is also traded as "Least Killifish", but this is technically wrong since it does not lay eggs as killifishes do.
Range and habitat
The Dwarf Livebearer is the only member of the genus Heterandria to be found in the United States.[3] Its range covers southeastern United States, from South Carolina south to Georgia and Florida, and through the Florida Gulf Coast to Louisiana.[3][4] It is one of the few aquarium fishes to come from North America.
The Dwarf Livebearer lives primarily in slow moving or standing freshwater but also occurs in brackish waters.[4]
Description
The Dwarf Livebearer is one of the smallest fish and smallest vertebrates known to science.[3] Males grow to about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches), while females grow a little larger, to about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches).[3][5]
The fish is generally an olive color, with a dark horizontal stripe through the center of the body. There is also a dark spot on the dorsal fin and females also have a dark spot on their anal fin. Like most poeciliids, males' anal fins are modified into a gonopodium that is used for impregnating females during mating.
Diet
The Dwarf Livebearer primarily eats invertebrates such as worms and crustaceans.[4] They also eat plant matter.[4]
Breeding
Like most poeciliids, the Dwarf Livebearer is a livebearer. The male uses his modified anal fin, or gonopodium, to deliver sperm to the female. The fertilized eggs grow within the female until they hatch, and the young are released free swimming. Dwarf Livebearer have a unique breeding strategy even among livebearers. Rather than all the young being released at once, as many as 40 fry are released over a 10 to 14 day period, but occasionally over a longer period.[3][5][1]
References
- ^ a b Baensch, H. (1991). Baensch Aquarium Atlas. p. pp. 592-593. ISBN 3-88244-050-3.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help) - ^ "Occurence and Distribution of Heterandria formosa in Lowndes County, Georgia". Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b c d e Dawes, J. (1995). Livebearing Fishes. p. pp. 186-187. ISBN 0-7137-2592-3.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help) - ^ a b c d "Fishbase Heterandria formosa". Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b Dawes, J. (2001). Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium. p. p. 276. ISBN 1-55297-544-4.
{{cite book}}:|page=has extra text (help)