Species: Gambusia punctata, Cuban Gambusia, Spotted Gambusia

Gambusia punctata Poey, 1854

Cuban Gambusia, Spotted 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 or less rays; anal fin origin distinctly before dorsal fin origin in both sexes; pelvic origin well behind pectoral base, near anal fin, tips of fins of males not swollen; pectorals high on flank, 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, with tip curved upwards and with recurved hooks on its top side, without a fleshy palp; tail base relatively narrow; tail fin rounded; scales smooth and relatively large.

Pale tan, belly whitish; body with 4-5 rows of small dark spots along scale rows, those on upper body strongest, the central row may form a dark line anteriorly; dorsal and tail fins yellowish, with rows of small dark spots; pectoral fins yellowish; pelvics and anal fin with bluish tint.

Reaches 8 cm, males about half size of females.

Mainly freshwater, in streams up to 600 m above sea level, but also in brackish water.

Depth: 0-1 m.

Cuba, S Florida, and Hispaniola