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Species: Gambusia rhizophorae, Mangrove gambusia

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several lines conspicuous black dots along body
fins yellowish
D 8-10
A 11
male: pectoral 5th ray scalloped, sex organ - no palp, + hooks above tip, tip blunt, round
lateral scales 28-30

Gambusia rhizophorae Rivas, 1969

Mangrove gambusia

Head and body moderately robust, moderately compressed at rear; head depressed; front nostril not tubular; covering of eye not continuous with skin of head; mouth small, opens at front, slightly oblique, lower jaw slightly projecting, top jaw protractile; jaw teeth consist of an outer row of large backward curved teeth, and several rows of small pointed teeth; 1 dorsal fin with short base, at rear of body, 9 (8-10) rays; anal fin origin distinctly before dorsal fin origin in both sexes female with 11 rays; pelvic origin well behind pectoral base, near anal fin, tips of fins of males not swollen; pectorals high on flank, 13-15, modified in male, with 5th ray scalloped near its tip; 3rd anal ray unbranched; anal fin modified in male to form an elongate sex organ, tip of that greatly elongate organ bluntly rounded at tip, which curves upwards, with backward pointing hooks near top of tip, without a fleshy palp; tail base relatively narrow; tail fin  rounded; scales smooth and relatively large, 28-30 along side.

Light olive to yellowish above, pale below; several lines of small but conspicuous, regularly spaced black dots along upper sides; fins yellowish, dorsal and tail fins with rows of dark dots.

Reaches 5 cm.

Freshwater and brackish water.

Depth range: 0-1 m.

S Florida and Cuba.


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Salinity
  • Freshwater
  • Non Marine
  • Brackish
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Estuary
  • Freshwater
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Detritivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Insects
  • Data
  • Detritus
Egg Type
  • No pelagic larva
  • No pelagic phase
  • Data
  • Live birth
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Island (s)
  • GC endemic
  • Continent
  • All species..
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Least concern
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 5
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 1