Amazon molly

:"For the "Amazon river molly", see "Poecilia amazonica.

Taxobox
name = Amazon molly


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Cyprinodontiformes
familia = Poeciliidae
genus = "Poecilia"
species = "P. formosa"
binomial = "Poecilia formosa"
binomial_authority = (Girard, 1859)The Amazon molly, "Poecilia formosa", is a freshwater fish which reproduces through gynogenesis. This means that although females must mate with a male, genetic material from the male is not incorporated into the already diploid egg cells that the mother is carrying (except in extraordinary circumstances), resulting in clones of the mother being produced "en mass". This characteristic has led to the Amazon molly becoming an all female species. The common name acknowledges this trait as a reference to the Amazon warriors, a female run society in Greek mythology. They are native to warm fresh waters of northeastern Mexico and to the extreme southern parts of the U.S. state of Texas on the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.

In nature, the Amazon molly typically mates with a male from one of four different species, either "P. latipinna", "P. mexicana", "P. latipunctata", and occasionally "P. sphenops". One other male that could possibly exist in the Amazon molly's natural range that could induce parthenogenesis in Amazon molly females, is the triploid Amazon molly males. These triploid males are very rare in nature and are not necessary in the reproduction of the species, which is why the species is considered to be all female.

The Amazon molly reaches sexual maturity anywhere from 1–6 months after birth and typically has a brood (batch of young) with somewhere between 60–100 fry (young) being delivered every 30–40 days. This lends itself towards a large potential for population growth as long as host males are present. The wide variability in maturity dates and brood sizes are a result of genetic heritage, varying temperatures, and food availability. They will become sexually mature faster and produce larger broods in warm (approximately 80 °F) water that provides an overabundance of food. [http://www.petfish.net/articles/Livebearers/amazon_molly.php]

References

*ITIS|ID=165899|taxon=Poecilia formosa|year=2006|date=6 June
*FishBase species | genus = Poecilia | species = formosa | month = May | year = 2006
*Schlupp, I., R. Riesch & M. Tobler (2007): Quick guide –Amazon mollies. Current Biology 17: R536-R537.
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7360770.stm No sex for all-girl fish species] BBC News, 23 April 2008