Molly | |
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Male molly | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
Family: | Poeciliidae |
Genus: | Poecilia |
Species: |
P. sphenops
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Binomial name | |
Poecilia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846) | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Poecilia sphenops is a species of fish, of the genus Poecilia, known under the common name molly; to distinguish it from its congeners, it is sometimes called short-finned mollyorcommon molly. They inhabit fresh water streams, coastal brackish, and marine waters from MexicotoColombia. The wild-type fishes are dull, silvery in color. The molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. The male mollies generally tend to be mildly aggressive.
Mollies rank as one of the most popular feeder fish due to high growth rate, birth size, reproduction, and brood number.
Mollies are similar in appearance to their livebearer cousins, the platy, swordtail and guppies; the molly tends to be slightly larger and more energetic. Many aquarists note the stronger individuality and aggression in keeping mollies versus platies, who appear much more docile.
Standard size of male fish is 3.2″ (8 cm) and female fish is 4.8″ (12 cm).
Selective breeding over centuries has produced several color variations and different body shapes.
Poecilia sphenops |
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