Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

General data

Main name: Western mosquitofish
Local names: Mosquitofish, Gambusia
Climates: Subtropical, Temperate
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: North America
Introduced: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Lake Vrana, Mississippi River, Amu Darya, Savannah river, Orange river, Balsas River

Classification

Description

The western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is a species of freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply Mosquitofish or by its generic name, Gambusia, or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is also referred to by these names. Mosquitofish are small in comparison to many other freshwater fish, with females reaching a maximum length of 7 cm (2.8 in) and males a maximum length of 4 cm (1.6 in). The female can be distinguished from the male by her larger size and a gravid spot at the posterior of her abdomen. The name Mosquitofish was given because the fish eats mosquito larvae, and has been used more than any other fishes for the biological control of mosquitoes. Gambusia typically eat zooplankton, beetles, mayflies, caddisflies, mites, and other invertebrates; mosquito larvae make up only a small portion of their diet. Mosquitofish were introduced directly into ecosystems in many parts of the world as a biocontrol to lower mosquito populations which in turn negatively affected many other species in each distinct bioregion. Fertilization is internal; the male secretes milt into the genital aperture of the female through his gonopodium. Within 16 to 28 days after mating, the female gives birth to about 60 young. The males reach sexual maturity within 43 to 62 days. The females, if born early in the reproductive season, reach sexual maturity within 21 to 28 days; females born later in the season reach sexual maturity the next season, in six to seven months. Description Mosquitofish are small and of a dull grey coloring, with a large abdomen, and have rounded dorsal and caudal fins and an upturned mouth. Sexual dimorphism is seen; mature females reach a maximum overall length of 7 cm (2.8 in), while males reach only 4 cm (1.6 in). Sexual dimorphism is also seen in the physiological structures of the body. The anal fins on adult females resemble the dorsal fins, while the anal fins of adult males are pointed. This pointed fin, referred to as a gonopodium, is used to deposit milt inside the female. Adult female mosquitofish can be identified by a gravid spot they possess on the posterior of their abdomens. Other species considered similar to G. affinis include Poecilia latipinna, Poecilia reticulata, and Xiphophorus maculatus; they are commonly misidentified as mosquitofish. Habitat The native range of the mosquitofish is from southern parts of Illinois and Indiana, throughout the Mississippi River and its tributary waters, to as far south as the Gulf Coast in the northeastern parts of Mexico. They are found most abundantly in shallow water protected from larger fish. Mosquitofish can survive relatively inhospitable environments, and are resilient to low oxygen concentrations, high salt concentrations (up to twice that of sea water), and temperatures up to 42 °C (108 °F) for short periods. Because of their notable adaptability to harsh conditions and their global introduction into many habitats for mosquito control, they have been described as the most widespread freshwater fish in the world.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
    
    Poeciliidae - Poeciliids->
    
    Gambusia - Gambusia->
    
    Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
    
    Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)
    
    Yellowfin gambusia (Gambusia alvarezi)
    
    Amistad gambusia (Gambusia amistadensis)
    
    Blackfin gambusia (Gambusia atrora)
    
    Golden gambusia (Gambusia aurata)
    
    Gambusia baracoana (Gambusia baracoana)
    
    Miragoane gambusia (Gambusia beebei)
    
    Gambusia bucheri (Gambusia bucheri)
    
    San Felipe gambusia (Gambusia clarkhubbsi)
    
    Dominican gambusia (Gambusia dominicensis)
    
    Maya gambusia (Gambusia echeagarayi)
    
    Widemouth gambusia (Gambusia eurystoma)
    
    Big Bend gambusia (Gambusia gaigei)
    
    Largespring gambusia (Gambusia geiseri)
    
    San Marcos gambusia (Gambusia georgei)
    
    Clear Creek gambusia (Gambusia heterochir)
    
    Hispaniolan gambusia (Gambusia hispaniolae)
    
    Crescent gambusia (Gambusia hurtadoi)
    
    Spotfin gambusia (Gambusia krumholzi)
    
    Gambusia lemaitrei (Gambusia lemaitrei)
    
    Cuatrocienegas gambusia (Gambusia longispinis)
    
    Sleek mosquitofish (Gambusia luma)
    
    Gambusia manni (Gambusia manni)
    
    Robust gambusia (Gambusia marshi)
    
    Striped gambusia (Gambusia melapleura)
    
    Gambusia monticola (Gambusia monticola)
    
    Gambusia myersi (Gambusia myersi)
    
    Nicaraguan mosquitofish (Gambusia nicaraguensis)
    
    Pecos gambusia (Gambusia nobilis)
    
    Panuco gambusia (Gambusia panuco)
    
    Tiburon Peninsula gambusia (Gambusia pseudopunctata)
    
    Cuban gambusia (Gambusia punctata)
    
    Caribbean gambusia (Gambusia puncticulata)
    
    Gambusia quadruncus (Gambusia quadruncus)
    
    Forlon gambusia (Gambusia regani)
    
    Mangrove gambusia (Gambusia rhizophorae)
    
    Blotched gambusia (Gambusia senilis)
    
    Teardrop mosquito (Gambusia sexradiata)
    
    Tex-Mex gambusia (Gambusia speciosa)
    
    Gulf gambusia (Gambusia vittata)
    
    Wray’s gambusia (Gambusia wrayi)
    
    Cayman gambusia (Gambusia xanthosoma)
    
    Yucatan gambusia (Gambusia yucatana)
    
    Gambusia zarskei (Gambusia zarskei)
    
    Poecilia - Poecilia->
    
    Belonesox - Pike topminnow->
    
    Poeciliopsis - Poeciliopsis->
    
    Alfaro - Alfaro->
    
    Brachyrhaphis - Brachyrhaphis->
    
    Carlhubbsia - Carlhubbsia->
    
    Cnesterodon - Cnesterodon->
    
    Girardinus - Girardinus->
    
    Heterandria - Heterandria->
    
    Heterophallus - Heterophallus->
    
    Limia - Limia->
    
    Micropoecilia - Micropoecilia->
    
    Neoheterandria - Neoheterandria->
    
    Pamphorichthys - Pamphorichthys->
    
    Phallichthys - Phallichthys->
    
    Phalloceros - Phalloceros->
    
    Phalloptychus - Phalloptychus->
    
    Phallotorynus - Phallotorynus->
    
    Priapella - Priapella->
    
    Priapichthys - Priapichthys->
    
    Pseudopoecilia - Pseudopoecilia->
    
    Pseudoxiphophorus - Pseudoxiphophorus->
    
    Quintana - Quintana->
    
    Scolichthys - Scolichthys->
    
    Tomeurus - Tomeurus->
    
    Xenodexia - Xenodexia->
    
    Xenophallus - Xenophallus->
    
    Xiphophorus - Xiphophorus->
    
    Aphaniidae - Oriental killifishes->
    
    Valenciidae - Valencia toothcarp->
    
    Fundulidae - North American killifishes->
    
    Cyprinodontidae - Pupfishes->
    
    Anablepidae - Four-eyed fishes, onesided livebearers and white-eye->
    
    Aplocheilidae - Killifishes->
    
    Cynolebiinae - Pearl killifishes->
    
    Fluviphylacidae - American lampeyes->
    
    Goodeidae - Splitfins->
    
    Nothobranchiidae - African rivulines->
    
    Pantanodontidae - Spine killifishes->
    
    Procatopodidae - African lampeyes->
    
    Profundulidae - Middle American killifishes->
    
    Rivulidae - Rivulines->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->