Species: Poecilia orri, Mangrove Molly

Poecilia orri Fowler, 1943

Mangrove Molly

Head and body moderately robust (larger) to elongate (smaller), moderately compressed at rear; head depressed; front nostril not tubular; covering of eye not continuous with skin of head; mouth small, at front, slightly oblique, lower jaw slightly projecting, top jaw protractile; jaw teeth consist of an outer row of large backward curved teeth with expanded tips, and several rows of small pointed teeth; without 2 pairs of pores on top of snout before eyes: 1 dorsal fin with short base, its origin behind pelvic origin, 9 (8-10) rays; pelvic origin well behind pectoral base, near anal fin; tip of pelvic fin of males swollen, elongate; pectorals high on flank, 5th ray not scalloped in male; anal fin 8-9 rays, origin under (female) or a little behind (male) dorsal fin origin; 3rd anal ray unbranched; anal fin modified in male to form an elongate sex organ, that organ relatively short, with straight tip that has small spines & a fleshy palp; tail base deep (20.5-24% of SL); tail fin rounded, without elongate sword; scales smooth and relatively large; 25-27 lateral scales, 16 scales around tail fin base.

Occurs in 2 distinct forms that use different microhabitats: Top of head and back bluey black; sides steel blue, with faint rows of orange spots; male with a dark oval spot above pectoral fin base and large spots on tail fin base. Type 1: dorsal and tail fins lemon yellow, with scattered black spots on fin membranes. Type 2: tail brick-red with large black spots on inner 2/3 of its membranes, rear edge black; dorsal fin inner half black + white spots, outer half brick red, with a few black spots and a black outer edge.

Reaches 7.3 cm.

Fresh to full strength salt water, lagoons, mangroves, sandy beaches.

Depth range: 0-3 m.

The NW Caribbean.