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Lowland livebearer (Poeciliopsis latidens) — Poeciliidae

Lowland livebearer

Poeciliopsis latidens
Family: Poeciliidae

The Lowland livebearer (Poeciliopsis latidens) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Poeciliidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Lowland livebearer is a livebearing toothcarp (Poeciliidae) from fresh and brackish water of northwestern Mexico. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, silver-brown body with a superior mouth. The male fertilises the female internally with an anal fin modified into a gonopodium, after which live young are born. As a social fish it swims in schools at the surface of streams and pools and eats mosquito larvae, small invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lowland livebearer?

The Lowland livebearer has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Lowland livebearer live?

The Lowland livebearer lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Lowland livebearer get?

The Lowland livebearer grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Lowland livebearer dangerous to humans?

No, the Lowland livebearer is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Breedtand-tandkarper sourced
English name
Lowland livebearer sourced
Scientific name
Poeciliopsis latidens
Family
Poeciliidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Poeciliopsis

More from the family Poeciliidae

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