535:
around summer. Females can have up to nine broods per mating season, with the average size ranging from five to 100. The variability of the average brood size is due to many variables, including temperature, age, and available nutrients. Higher temperatures have been shown to increase the fecundity of this species. The gestation period for this species is between 22 and 25 days. Predation stress is also known to affect their reproduction (clutch size). Predator-exposed females were found to give birth to higher number of stillborn offspring compared to unexposed females.
58:
272:
44:
556:
of growth. The usual lifespan is between one and two years, as determined by stress factors in their habitats. Sexual selection in this species is based on the size of the male. Females tend to choose larger, more aggressive males. Females tend to choose areas of shallow water with dark soil cover for brooding sites, while juveniles prefer more rooted plants in which to hide. The main human-induced change that affects the growth rate and life history of
107:
82:
520:
populations. These findings highlight the ecological flexibility of these species, contributing to their extensive success and posing a substantial risk for further range expansion. Furthermore, climate change is projected to create vast opportunities for additional expansion, particularly in Europe.
555:
The offspring juvenile stage lasts between 18 days and eight weeks. Once again, changes in temperature affects these numbers; colder temperatures decrease and higher temperatures can increase maturity. This species can have several generations within their breeding period because of their fast rate
481:
seems to be an increase of its own species and other planktivorous species. The main problem with this is, as mentioned before, it will change its diet; this is common even among the juveniles and both sexes of its own species. The females tend to not specialize on one prey, and consume all evenly,
616:
a lake known to have been invaded. The cost and loss of native fish was so great, that this method was dropped. The main reason it failed was mosquitofish stay in the shallows, which receive the smallest charge from the electrification method used. Later tests also revealed this species has a high
502:
has been shown to survive in water with pH and chemical levels known to kill other fish species, and prefers to live in areas where the water flows at a slow pace, is clear and without free-floating plant life, and seeks shelter in rooted plants. No decrease in this species due to human activities
344:
The eastern mosquitofish is a small, light-colored fish with semitransparent fins. The females usually have a black stripe near their eye area and light spots can be seen on the caudal and dorsal fins of both sexes. Due to its similar size, shape, and reproductive habits, it can easily be mistaken
534:
Temperature has been shown to change the length of time it takes them to reach reproductive maturity and body size. This species is also known to give birth to live young instead of laying a clutch of eggs. The breeding season is between midspring and midautumn, with the peak breeding time being
497:
Eastern mosquitofish are found in shallow, standing to slow-flowing water, mostly in vegetated ponds, lakes, and sloughs. This species thrives in water between 31 °C (88 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F), and seems to be able to acclimate to temperatures above and below this.
629:
predators, due to its own predatory nature in the areas where it has been introduced. In the introduced areas, it has been known to cause top-down trophic effects due to its eating the larvae of some top predators, which include frogs and other fish. Visual exposure to its predator,
515:
Through species distribution models, it has been revealed that
Eastern mosquitofish exhibit significant niche expansions beyond their natural climatic ranges, with a notable shift towards tropical regions in Asia and a distinct niche shift observed in European
503:
has been noted. The
Eastern mosquitofish is easily maintained and has never been considered an endangered or threatened species due to its ability to thrive in its native habitat. Due to releases in new areas,
910:
Manzo, Cristina; Fabbrocini, Adele; Roselli, Leonilde; D'Adamo, Raffaele (2016). "Characterization of the fish assemblage in a
Mediterranean coastal lagoon: Lesina Lagoon (central Adriatic Sea)".
612:, but they became tolerant to most of them fairly rapidly unless amounts considered unsafe for native species were used. Another strategy tried, and failed, to decrease this invasive species was
419:
comes from the Cuban term, "Gambusino", which means "free-lance miner". Common names include eastern mosquitofish, plague minnow and eastern gambusia. The identity of the person honored in the
1476:
543:
According to
Pilastro et al. male mosquito fish can be especially sexually aggressive. This aggression can reduce female foraging efficiency by more than half. Females frequently form
1461:
581:
in the 1920s to control mosquitoes, but provided no further benefit over small
Australian native fish. Further, they cause harm to native fauna that have an aquatic
1252:
601:. Compounding the issue, Eastern mosquitofish have the ability to thrive in many different environmental conditions which are usually lethal to other fish species.
490:
Eastern mosquitofish are native to the southeastern United States. They have been introduced worldwide and have become an invasive species in many places including
780:
1340:
1446:
364:
Mosquitofish may have a melanistic color pattern with black spots, resembling a dalmatian. This could result in its being misidentified as another species.
608:. One such management plan included releasing a chemical known to kill mosquito larvae. The chemicals used were found to have a strong effect on the
1213:
1278:
750:
1366:
482:
whereas the males and juveniles specialize on one prey type. However. males, females, and juveniles all consume detritus at the same rate.
585:
stage. Mosquitofish are aggressive, fin-nipping harassers of other fish, and pose a serious threat to native
Australian fish and aquatic
1466:
1161:
353:
species, and as such, the females are larger and more rounded than the males. Pregnant females are also easily recognizable by their
461:
will, if need arises, switch food sources to survive. With an increase of competition, this species will switch from a diet rich in
1052:
712:
1405:
1226:
1456:
597:
species have been documented. Several rainbowfish populations appear to have become extinct due to the impacts of introduced
1283:
573:
Eastern mosquitofish have become invasive species in many freshwater systems of the world and are for example described as
1327:
574:
491:
412:
217:
792:
1265:
1135:
1122:
1179:
1471:
1010:
Mulvey, M., G. P. Keller, and G. K. Meffe. 1994. Single and multiple locus genotypes and life-history responses of
271:
1345:
57:
1192:
106:
1037:
Female aggregation and male competition reduce costs of sexual harassment in the mosquitofish
Gambusia holbrooki
1423:
849:) under different ecological conditions in a shallow lake. International Review of Hydrobiology 89: 250–262.
420:
349:. Generally, males reach 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and females 2.5 in (6.4 cm). These fish are a
1113:
1075:
617:
tolerance for electrical shock, but the exact mechanism that allows this still seems to be questionable.
544:
1140:
816:"Order CYPRINODONTIFORMES: Families POECILIIDAE, ANABLEPIDAE, VALENCIIDAE, APHANIIDAE and PROCATOPODIDAE"
259:
431:
201:
1397:
1410:
1036:
758:
373:
679:
71:
1319:
317:
255:
226:
158:
101:
1306:
1257:
861:
McPeek, M. A. 1992. Mechanisms of sexual selection operating on body size in the mosquitofish (
736:
43:
1451:
1379:
1148:
845:
Blanco, S., S. Romo, and M. J. Villena. 2004. Experimental study on the diet of mosquitofish (
392:
1384:
1296:
965:
957:
919:
674:
396:
307:
302:
1353:
1127:
631:
578:
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has actually increased its range. It tolerates chemical and thermal changes quite easily.
314:
336:, while the western mosquitofish has a larger distribution throughout the United States.
1187:
1174:
970:
945:
148:
656:
1440:
1291:
1048:
946:"Off to new shores: Climate niche expansion in invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.)"
708:
665:
613:
462:
446:
381:
91:
86:
320:. The eastern mosquitofish is native to the eastern and southern United States from
1153:
586:
470:
325:
1231:
604:
Australia set up conservation management plans to try to save native species from
17:
1332:
1314:
1239:
1107:
590:
466:
354:
310:
168:
1098:
923:
1026:
Mukherjee et al. 2014. PLoS ONE 9(2): e88832. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088832
815:
428:
358:
350:
294:
1166:
474:
424:
333:
275:
Eastern mosquitofish in a pond in the Pee Dee region of South
Carolina, 2011
118:
1270:
1358:
477:
species, and plant-associated animals. The main source of competition for
1200:
1092:
1061:
721:
454:
178:
138:
1418:
1218:
1205:
329:
321:
290:
1244:
961:
457:. Feeding habits seem to change based on maturity and mating season.
128:
1069:
372:
In its native range, eastern mosquitofish may be confused with the
1392:
582:
450:
346:
270:
1371:
594:
297:
1073:
737:"Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) - Species Profile"
814:
Christopher
Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (26 October 2019).
994:(eastern mosquitofish) populations. Heredity 79: 295–301.
403:) are similar in appearance but have a forked tail fin.
944:
Jourdan, Jonas; Riesch, Rüdiger; Cunze, Sarah (2021).
1014:
reared at two temperatures. Evolution. 46: 1810–1819.
900:. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 15: 339–365.
357:; a darker area on their bellies where they hold the
990:
1997. Downstream gene flow and genetic structure of
1082:
1477:Freshwater fish of the Southeastern United States
1022:
1020:
820:The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database
680:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T202394A18232445.en
625:Little research has been done to determine all
300:, closely related to the western mosquitofish,
1039:Animal Behavior 65: doi:10.1006/anbe.2003.2118
8:
983:
981:
577:. Eastern mosquitofish were introduced into
822:. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara
465:, algae, and detritus to one consisting of
1070:
988:Hernandez-Martich, J. D., and M. H. Smith.
939:
937:
935:
933:
774:
772:
770:
768:
703:
701:
699:
697:
80:
56:
42:
31:
1006:
1004:
1002:
1000:
969:
678:
415:described the species in 1859. The genus
857:
855:
841:
839:
837:
547:to reduce sexual harassment from males.
1462:Fauna of the Southeastern United States
647:
638:) is known to affect its reproduction.
885:
883:
881:
879:
877:
875:
873:
871:
779:NSW Department of Primary Industries.
423:is uncertain but is thought to be the
7:
1424:684412E0-BF79-474B-AFD7-4E17F8E12B03
1398:27A14AF3-BFED-15DC-718B-A0771781D2D7
1193:602ea9ad-d250-4af1-94a6-768dd049d159
473:, the larvae of many other fish and
1447:IUCN Red List least concern species
666:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
912:Regional Studies in Marine Science
25:
892:2005. A review of the biology of
511:Prediction of future distribution
791:. NSW Government. Archived from
395:, the female and juvenile local
105:
865:). Behavioral Ecology 3: 1-12.
1:
575:invasive species in Australia
1493:
924:10.1016/j.rsma.2016.04.003
560:is the water temperature.
1467:Fish of the United States
593:species and at least one
232:
225:
207:
200:
102:Scientific classification
100:
78:
69:
64:
55:
50:
41:
34:
1051:; Pauly, Daniel (eds.).
711:; Pauly, Daniel (eds.).
486:Habitat and distribution
306:. It is a member of the
789:Fishing and Aquaculture
449:species which consumes
413:Charles Frédéric Girard
244:Schizophallus holbrooki
1457:Fish described in 1859
1035:Pilastro et al. 2003.
751:"eastern mosquitofish"
725:. August 2019 version.
673:: e.T202394A18232445.
589:. Negative impacts on
276:
950:Ecology and Evolution
636:Micropterus salmoides
432:John Edwards Holbrook
274:
236:Heterandria holbrooki
1188:Fauna Europaea (new)
655:NatureServe (2013).
401:Pseudomugil signifer
374:western mosquitofish
281:eastern mosquitofish
252:Zygonectes atrilatus
1065:. May 2006 version.
781:"Eastern gambusia (
407:Taxonomy and naming
72:Conservation status
1128:Gambusia_holbrooki
1114:Gambusia holbrooki
1084:Gambusia holbrooki
1055:Gambusia holbrooki
1012:Gambusia holbrooki
992:Gambusia holbrooki
863:Gambusia holbrooki
847:Gambusia holbrooki
783:Gambusia holbrooki
715:Gambusia holbrooki
659:Gambusia holbrooki
459:Gambusia holbrooki
411:French naturalist
386:Poecilia latipinna
318:Cyprinodontiformes
286:Gambusia holbrooki
277:
211:Gambusia holbrooki
159:Cyprinodontiformes
36:Gambusia holbrooki
18:Gambusia holbrooki
1472:Live-bearing fish
1434:
1433:
1380:Open Tree of Life
1076:Taxon identifiers
962:10.1002/ece3.8427
539:Sexual aggression
393:eastern Australia
269:
268:
263:
248:
240:
193:G. holbrooki
95:
16:(Redirected from
1484:
1427:
1426:
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1401:
1400:
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1387:
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1333:NHMSYS0021199296
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1015:
1008:
995:
985:
976:
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941:
928:
927:
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894:Gambusia affinis
887:
866:
859:
850:
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832:
831:
829:
827:
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795:on 16 March 2016
776:
763:
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757:. Archived from
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741:
740:
733:
727:
726:
705:
692:
691:
689:
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652:
569:Invasive species
445:is considered a
397:Pacific blue-eye
378:Gambusia affinis
303:Gambusia affinis
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110:
109:
89:
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1354:Observation.org
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1078:
1047:
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1025:
1018:
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956:: 18369–18400.
943:
942:
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904:
888:
869:
860:
853:
844:
835:
825:
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748:
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734:
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707:
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695:
685:
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632:largemouth bass
623:
579:New South Wales
571:
566:
553:
541:
532:
527:
513:
488:
440:
409:
370:
368:Similar species
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221:
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209:
196:
104:
96:
85:
81:
74:
28:
27:Species of fish
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
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1197:
1184:
1175:Fauna Europaea
1171:
1158:
1145:
1132:
1119:
1104:
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1080:
1079:
1074:
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1049:Froese, Rainer
1042:
1041:
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1016:
996:
977:
929:
902:
867:
851:
833:
806:
764:
761:on 2007-08-23.
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728:
709:Froese, Rainer
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328:and inland to
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247:(Girard, 1859)
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239:(Girard, 1859)
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149:Actinopterygii
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614:electrocuting
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587:invertebrates
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471:invertebrates
468:
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463:phytoplankton
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456:
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448:
447:planktivorous
444:
437:
435:
434:(1796–1871).
433:
430:
426:
422:
421:specific name
418:
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402:
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382:sailfin molly
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202:Binomial name
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87:Least Concern
77:
73:
68:
63:
59:
54:
49:
45:
40:
37:
33:
30:
19:
1083:
1060:
1054:
1031:
1011:
991:
987:
953:
949:
915:
911:
905:
898:G. holbrooki
897:
893:
889:
862:
846:
824:. Retrieved
819:
809:
797:. Retrieved
793:the original
788:
782:
759:the original
755:www.fcps.edu
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670:
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627:G. holbrooki
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558:G. holbrooki
557:
554:
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533:
530:Reproduction
525:Life history
518:G. holbrooki
517:
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505:G. holbrooki
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500:G. holbrooki
499:
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1315:NatureServe
1240:iNaturalist
1108:Wikispecies
918:: 192–200.
890:Pyke, G. H.
686:19 November
591:rainbowfish
467:zooplankton
355:gravid spot
340:Description
311:Poeciliidae
169:Poeciliidae
1441:Categories
826:2 November
642:References
429:naturalist
351:livebearer
295:freshwater
621:Predators
492:Australia
475:amphibian
425:physician
380:) or the
334:Tennessee
187:Species:
125:Kingdom:
119:Eukaryota
1452:Gambusia
1320:2.105815
1258:10726791
1201:FishBase
1099:Q1930449
1093:Wikidata
1062:FishBase
722:FishBase
599:Gambusia
455:detritus
417:Gambusia
227:Synonyms
180:Gambusia
165:Family:
139:Chordata
135:Phylum:
129:Animalia
115:Domain:
92:IUCN 3.1
1419:ZooBank
1219:2350570
971:8717293
799:4 April
564:Ecology
330:Alabama
322:Florida
291:species
289:) is a
260:Brayton
175:Genus:
155:Order:
145:Class:
90: (
51:Female
1411:276134
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1372:276134
1359:185418
1297:202394
1284:165896
1245:101204
1180:304807
1141:141885
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551:Growth
545:shoals
345:for a
308:family
262:, 1878
258:&
256:Jordan
220:, 1859
218:Girard
1406:WoRMS
1393:Plazi
1346:37273
1304:NAS:
1271:82089
1253:IRMNG
1167:10449
1162:EUNIS
1154:3F7VR
451:algae
347:guppy
315:order
65:Male
1367:OBIS
1341:NCBI
1292:IUCN
1279:ITIS
1227:GISD
1214:GBIF
1206:4521
1136:BOLD
896:and
828:2019
801:2015
688:2021
671:2013
595:frog
453:and
438:Diet
427:and
332:and
298:fish
279:The
1328:NBN
1307:849
1266:ISC
1232:617
1149:CoL
1123:AFD
966:PMC
958:doi
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