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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: Amazon molly
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: Distinguishing characteristics were given in Miller (1983), Hubbs et al. (1991), and Page and Burr (1991); other names used in the past for this species include Mollienesia formosa and Limia formosa (Hubbs 1955; Miller 1983). It was included in Miller's (1983) key to the Mexican Poecilia. A photograph appeared in Dawes (1991).
Size: 9.6 cm.
Native Range:
Rio Grande drainage, extreme southern Texas; also in Mexico south to Veracruz (Miller 1983; Page and Burr 1991).
Nonindigenous Occurrences: Introduced populations have been recorded from the San Antonio River at San Antonio, the San Marcos River at San Marcos, and the lower Neuces River, Texas (Drewry et al. 1958; Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Conner and Suttkus 1986; Hubbs et al. 1978, 1991; Page and Burr 1991).
Means of Introduction: Unknown.
Status: Several introduced populations have been documented in Texas (e.g, Hubbs et al. 1991; Page and Burr 1991); as such, it can be assumed that the species is, at a minimum, locally established.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks: Poecilia formosa is a gynogenetic, unisexual (all-female) molly of hybrid origin (Hubbs 1955; Miller 1983). The spermatozoa from a related species stimulate egg development but do not contribute any genetic material (Meffe and Snelson 1989). There is some doubt concerning the positive identification of this and some of the other molly species taken in Texas and as to whether certain populations are actually nonnative or possibly hybrids (Howells 1992a).
Howells, R. G. 1992a. Annotated list of introduced non-native fishes, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants in Texas waters. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Management Data Series 78, Austin, TX. 19 pp.
Hubbs, C., R. J. Edwards, and G. P. Garrett. 1991. An annotated checklist of freshwater fishes of Texas, with key to identification of species. Texas Journal of Science, Supplement 43(4):1-56.
Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.
Meffe, G. K., and F. F. Snelson, Jr., editors. 1989. Ecology and evolution of livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae). Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Miller, R. R. 1983. Checklist and key to the mollies of Mexico (Pisces: Poecilidae, Poecilia, subgenus Mollienesia) Copeia 1983(3):817-822.
Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico
Revision Date: 4/21/2006 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico. 2009. Poecilia formosa. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=856> Revision Date: 4/21/2006
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