Fishes: Poecilia Nigrofasciata

Monday, 23 July 2012

Poecilia Nigrofasciata

Poecilia is a genus of euryhaline brackish water fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes.The type species is P. vivipara. Live-bearers, the Poecilia species are collectively known as mollies, with the exception of Endler's livebearer (P. wingei) and the famous guppy (P. reticulata). Members of this genus are members of the family Poecilidae, which includes the southern platyfish or "platy" (Xiphophorus maculatus), and the green swordtail (X. hellerii).Along with their platy cousins, the mollies are part of a pivotal aquaculture group of livebearers, which can live in water from fresh to fully marine, and a wide range of other conditions. They feed on smaller insects, animals, and vegetation.IUCN list two of the species, the sulphur molly, P. sulphuraria, and the broadspotted molly, P. latipunctata, as Critically Endangered.The generic name Poecilia derives from the Greek (variegated), in reference to the fishes' coloration. Mollies need to live in water that is 25 to 28 °C (77 to 82 °F).Mollies come in several different colors and spot patterns, such as black, white, black and white spots, orange, Orange and white spots.