Poecilia wingei

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Endler's livebearer or Endler's guppy
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cyprinodontiformes Family: Poeciliidae Genus: Poecilia Species: P. wingei
Binomial name
Poecilia wingei Poeser, Kempkes, & Isbrücker, 2005

Poecilia wingei, known to aquarists as Endler's guppy or Endler's livebearer is a species of fish in the genus Poecilia, native to the Paria Peninsula, Venezuela.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 In the Aquarium 3 Breeding 4 Hybrids 5 References 6 See also

[edit] History

Poecilia wingei is a colorful fish, similar to (and closely related to) the guppy. The species was first collected from Laguna de Patos in Venezuela by Franklyn F. Bond in 1937, and rediscovered by Dr. John Endler in 1975. The latter were the first examples of this fish to make it to the aquarium trade. More have been collected since then, notably by Armando Pou, to expand the captive breeding stock. The original Laguna de Patos population is threatened by runoff from a municipal garbage dump. Though it is rare in pet shops, this species is seen from time to time today in the aquaria of enthusiasts.

Although not yet taken up into the IUCN Red List of endangered species, they are in danger of extinction in the wild as humans enter their natural habitat, polluting and destroying it.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] In the Aquarium

Endler's livebearers are hardy and undemanding in the aquarium though they prefer hard, warm water. The warmer the water, the faster they will grow; however this also seems to shorten their lifespan. They can be kept at 18–29 °C (66–82 °F), but their optimum temperature seems to be 24–27 °C. This is slightly higher than their guppy cousins which prefer 23–25 °C. They do best if kept in tanks with plants (preferably live, but fake will do) to give them hiding places and (although they may be less likely than guppies to eat their own young) give the fry a better chance at survival. Some of them are determinedly suicidal jumpers, so a cover on the tank is a must.

[edit] Breeding

The colors of Endler's livebearers are very intense, especially the black, orange, and metallic green colors. Their natural patterns are highly variable, though many display a double sword tail. Breeders have developed numerous lines displaying specific patterns and colors, such as red chest, black bar, peacock, yellow sword, etc.

They are prolific breeders like their guppy relatives. They give birth to live young approximately every 28 days. The fry can be fed powdered fry food, baby brine shrimp, and crushed flake food. The will also nibble on the layer of algae and microorganisms that forms on aquatic plants. Even adult brine shrimp are not beyond their capability, as several fry will gang up on a brine shrimp their own size and tear it apart. The males will start to show color in 3-4 weeks, but it can be several months before they develop the full depth and richness of color that characterizes Endler's.

[edit] Hybrids

Endler's can be crossed with guppies and the hybrid offspring are fertile. This is considered to dilute the gene pool and therefore is avoided by fish breeders who wish to maintain pure strains. Many fish sold in pet stores as Endler's livebearers are actually these hybrids. Some breeders are intentionally hybridizing Endler's with fancy guppies to create fish with the characteristics of both. In addition, as reticulata has been found in the same bodies of water as wingei, it is possible that natural hybridization may also occur in the wild.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Fred N. Poeser, Michael Kempkes, Isaac J. H. Isbrücker (2005). "Description of Poecilia (Acanthophacelus) wingei n. sp. from the Paria Peninsula, Venezuela, including notes on Acanthophacelus Eigenmann, 1907 and other subgenera of Poecilia Bloch and Schneider, 1801 (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes, Poecilidae)". Contributions to Zoology 74: 97–115. 
• Clarke, Matt (2006) - Endler's livebearer gets formal name, Practical Fishkeeping magazine