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Over 50,000 color images of worldwide
plant and animal species

Over 50,000 color images of worldwide
plant and animal species

Poecilia velifera
Molly - Yucatan
KingdomAnimal (Animalia)
PhylumBackboned Animals (Chordata)
ClassBoney Fish (Teleostomi)
OrderDiverse Groups (Fish) (Atheriniformes)
FamilyLive Bearing (Fish) (Poeciliidae)
GenusPoecilia
Scientific NamePoecilia velifera
Common NameMolly - Yucatan
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SPECIES INFO
Yucatan molly (Poecilia velifera) is found in areas near the ocean from Campeche to Yucatan and south into Quintana Roo. This molly grows to about 10.cm maximum length, so total length is almost 5 inches. The male has a gigantic dorsal fin. There is an image on page 313 of the 1985 atlas of the Burgess-Axelrod atlas of freshwater aquarium fish. This shows a white fish marked with horizontal dotted black lines along the body.

Poecilia genus of tropical freshwater New World live bearing fish contains two important groups of fish. The world famous guppy that is well known to every aquarist has numerous relatives and the well known mollies including the well known black molly both belong here.

The Poeciliidae (equal Poecilidae) are a group of live bearing fish native to both North and South America. This family includes many tropical species favored by the pet store industry. There are probably about 18O species in the family. The mosquitofish (Gsambusia affinis) has been introduced widely around the world and is probably the most widely distributed fresh water fish. The guppy, platy, swordtail, and others belong here.

Atheriniformes group of fish consists of diverse marine and freshwater kinds. It includes many of the tropical aquarium fish (guppies, mollies, and platies), flying fish, and the needle fish of the ocean.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.