| Cauca molly | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Genus: | Poecilia |
| Species: | P. caucana |
| Binomial name | |
| Poecilia caucana Steindachner, 1880[1] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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TheCauca molly (Poecilia caucana) is a freshwater fish in the familyPoeciliidae.[2] This fish is found in Panama, Venezuela, and Colombia, where it lives in shallow waters in the basins of theLebrija,Magdalena,Cauca and other rivers.[3][4]P. caucana eats mosquito larvae and algae.
The malePoecilia caucana grows to a length of 3 cm (1.2 in) while the female can attain 6 cm (2.4 in). Generally silvery in colour, this fish can be identified by the black blotch at the base of the dorsal fin. Some specimens show some degree of narrow transverse banding, but this may be the lingering remains of colour changes associated with breeding.[2]
P. caucana is native to freshwater systems in tropical Central and South America. Its range extends from the east-flowing rivers of Panama to theCauca River in Colombia. Its range also includes theCatatumbo River in northern Colombia, andLake Maracaibo in Venezuela into which it flows. This fish is a very tolerant species, able to withstand considerable variations in temperature and salinity, as well as low levels of oxygen.[2]
Anomnivore,P. caucana feeds on algae, onmosquito larvae and on insects that fall onto the water surface.[2] Proposals have been made to use this species, as well as the closely relatedguppy (Poecilia reticulata),[5] inbiological pest control of mosquitoes.[6] The Cauca molly is alivebearer; the female produces a batch of ten to twenty-five live young after agestation period of about four weeks.[7]
This fish is sometimes kept in aquaria. It does best at temperatures of between 27 and 29 °C (80.6 and 84.2 °F) in well-aerated conditions at a pH of 7.0 to 7.5.[7]