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Poecilia

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iPoecilia
Sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna)
Sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Poecilia
Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Species

See text.

Poecilia is a genus of freshwater fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes.<ref>Poecilia (TSN 165897). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on June 8 2006.</ref> The type species is P. vivipara. Live-bearers, the Poecilia species are collectively known as mollies, with the exception of the famous guppy (P. reticulata). Member of this genus are members of the family Poecilidae which includes the southern platyfish or "platy" (X. maculatus), and the green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii).

IUCN list two of the species, the sulphur molly, P. sulphuraria, and the broadspotted molly, P. latipunctata, as Critically Endangered.

The generic name Poecilia derives from the Greek ποικίλος (variegated), in reference to the fishes' coloration.

[edit] Species

FishBase lists the following 32 species,<ref>"Poecilia". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.</ref> to which P. wingei has been added:

[edit] References

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