Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859

Hui, Tan Heok, Peng, Kelvin Lim Kok, Huan, Liew Jia, Wei, Low Bi, Hing, Rayson Lim Bock, Beng, Jeffrey Kwik Teik & Yeo, Darren C. J., 2020, The non-native freshwater fishes of Singapore: an annotated compilation, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68, pp. 150-195 : 171

Poecilia reticulata Peters

( Fig. 67 , CA[SPC])

References. Hanitsch, 1912 (as Girardinus poeciloides ); Herre, 1940 (as Lebistes reticulatus ); Johnson, 1964 (as Lebistes reticulatus ); Alfred, 1966a (as Lebistes reticulatus ); Johnson, 1973b; Tham, 1973 (as Lebistes reticulatus ); Anonymous, 1989b; Lim & Ng, 1990; Munro, 1990; Ng, 1991; Ng et al., 1993; Fernando & Phang, 1994 (introduced as early as 1937); Lim, 1995; Lever, 1996; Ng & Lim, 1997a, 1997b; Goh et al., 2002; National Parks Board, 2003; Baker & Lim, 2008, 2012; Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010; Tan HTW et al., 2010; Yeo & Chia, 2010; Yeo & Lim, 2010; Ng PX & Tan HH, 2013; Tan et al., 2013; Tan & Low, 2014; Kwik & Yeo, 2015; Ho et al., 2016; Tan, 2016b.

Distribution. Widespread in Singapore, except in forest streams ( Maxwell, 1921; Alfred, 1966a; Lim & Ng, 1990); MacRitchie Reservoir ( Alfred, 1966a); Upper Seletar Reservoir ( Alfred, 1966a; Ng & Lim, 1997a, 1997b); Upper Peirce Reservoir ( Anonymous, 1989b); Central Catchment Nature Reserve — Nee Soon Swamp Forest ( Munro, 1990); Napier Road and Bukit Timah Road ( Munro, 1990); Seletar Reservoir Park ( Munro, 1990); Kent Ridge Park ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Pandan Canal ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Cluny Road drain ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Bukit Timah Nature Reserve peripheral streams (Lim, 1995; Ng & Lim, 1997b); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve ( National Parks Board, 2003); Lower Seletar Reservoir ( Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010); Bukit Batok Nature Park ( Yeo & Lim, 2010); Punggol Reservoir ( Ng PX & Tan HH, 2013); Serangoon Reservoir ( Ng PX & Tan HH, 2013); Bukit Brown ( Tan et al., 2013); Greenbank Park (Tan HH, pers. obs., 1990s); Kranji Reservoir (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2010); Commonwealth area (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2010); Mandai area (Tan & Low, 2014); Tai Seng area (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2016); outskirts of Nee Soon Swamp Forest ( Ho et al., 2016); Kent Ridge Park ponds ( Tan, 2016b).

Remarks. Tham (1973) commented that Poecilia reticulata was used for mosquito control in fish ponds. This species is commonly sold as live feed in the ornamental fish trade (Tan HH, pers. obs.). See later account under “Species for biological control” for more details.

Figures

Fig. 67. Poecilia reticulata, 14.8 mm SL male (top), 20.0 mm SL female (bottom); Mandai area.