Poecilia “latipinna (Lesueur, 1821)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 766-768

Poecilia “latipinna ”

Common name. Sailfin molly.

Diagnosis. Character states often intermediate between this “species” and P. “ sphenops ”. Distinguished from other species of Poeciliidae in West Asia by: ● 12–16½ dorsal rays in male forming a large sail / ○ dorsal origin above or in front of vertical of anal origin / ○ no lateral stripe but series of grey or black spots organised in horizontal rows / ○ body moderately elongate / ○ both sexes with rows of small black, grey or brown spots on flank or flank black or black mottled / ○ male without coloured blotches or stripes / ○ dorsal

larger in male than in female / ○ flank not red / ○ pelvic of male modified, tip of first ray enlarged, different in male and female / ○ gonopodium short / ○ male without sword-like prolongation on caudal. Size usually up to 80 mm SL. Male larger than female.

Distribution. Hybrids identified as this species have been introduced worldwide in tropical and subtropical countries, including Hammar Marsh and Shatt al Arab/Arvand in Iraq and also established in Zayandeh ( Iran), a wadi north of Muscat (Oman), locally in Israel and Saudi Arabia (wadis around Riyadh; Al-Ahsa oasis including Lake Alsfar, Anik and Al-Qatif), Bahrain (Adhari Park), and probably elsewhere, and introduced to lower Nile ( Egypt) and locally in Italy and Greece. Poecilia latipinna is native to coastal areas between North Carolina ( USA) and Yucatan ( Mexico).

Habitat. Wells and irrigation channels, drainage ditches, artificial ponds and streams, coastal marshes, lagoons, estuaries and lower reaches of rivers in brackish to freshwater habitats. Euryhaline, in fresh and even hypersaline water up to 87 ‰, usually in standing water.

Biology. Mature in less than a year. Produces up to 140 young of about 8 mm SL after a gestation period of 20–30 days, depending on water temperature. Females may give birth throughout year. Males defend territories and display their dorsal fins. Only dominant males develop large dorsals and guard schools of females. Males that cannot establish territories hide in schools of females and reproduce by sneeking. Males have higher predation mortality due to their active display behaviour. Feeds mainly on algae, detritus, and small invertebrates.

Conservation status. Non-native; released from aquaria. Rapidly spreading and highly invasive in the northern Persian Gulf region.

Remarks. Non-native sailfin mollies are mistakenly identified as P. latipinna . Poecilia latipinna , P. sphenops , P. velifera and possibly others have been accidentally and deliberately hybridised in aquaria and fish farms to produce attractive aquarium stocks suitable for freshwater tanks (the pure species are mostly found in brack-

Poecilia reticulata ; Oradea, Romania; female, ~ 30 mm SL.

ish water). This process has not been well documented but appears to have started as early as the 1970s. Such aquarium populations have been released and may have differed considerably in their original genetic composition. The genetic make-up of non-native population has not been studied. Non-native sailfin molly occurs in two colour variants: pale beige and mottled black and beige. Pure black, silver and orange varieties are known from the aquarium trade.

Further reading. Ross 1985 (introduction, distribution in Saudi Arabia); Miller 2005 (distribution, identification); Coad 2010a; Esmaeili et al. 2017 (introduction in Iran); Freyhof et al. 2020 (distribution in Saudi Arabia).

Poecilia reticulata ; Tohma drainage, Türkiye; male, ~ 20 mm SL.