Animal Profiles
Fish

Molly

Poecilia sphenops

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The molly is a small fish familiar from aquarium strains, especially black varieties. This account concerns Poecilia sphenops, whose wild populations and cultivated forms should not be assumed to look identical.

Molly (Poecilia sphenops) photographed in a transparent container.

Molly (Poecilia sphenops) photographed in a transparent container.

(c) James-LaFontaine, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Poecilia sphenops is reported from Mexico south towards Colombia in the cited account. It is often confused with related Poecilia species, so records need careful identification rather than assignment from the common name alone.
Habitat
Rivers and lakes
Diet
Omnivore
Food
The diet includes worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter.

Classification

Common name
Molly
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Poecilia sphenops
Taxon rank
species
Order
Cyprinodontiformes
Family
Poeciliidae
Genus
Poecilia
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It eats plant and animal foods.
  • Black aquarium strains are popular.
  • It is often confused with related mollies.

Habitat and range

Poecilia sphenops is reported from Mexico south towards Colombia in the cited account. It is often confused with related Poecilia species, so records need careful identification rather than assignment from the common name alone.

Appearance and adaptations

The compact body carries a relatively modest dorsal fin. Aquarium breeding has produced dark colour varieties. The lead photograph is identified as this species by its source and shows an animal in a container.

Diet and behaviour

The diet includes worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. Aquarium fish also consume algae. This varied feeding helps distinguish the species from a specialist predator, although common aquarium names can cover hybrids and related mollies.

Sources

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