Golden skiffia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden skiffia |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Skiffia
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| Species: |
francesae
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The golden skiffia (scientific name: Skiffia francesae), also called tiro dorado, is a special type of splitfin fish. It's known for its bright gold color, especially the males! This fish used to live only in the Rio Teuchitlán, a river in western Mexico. Sadly, it disappeared from the wild in 1996. But don't worry, people have kept them alive in aquariums and through fishkeeping hobbies. Thanks to amazing conservation efforts, this fish is now being reintroduced to its natural home!
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About the Golden Skiffia's Name
The scientific name of this fish is Skiffia francesae. It belongs to a family of fish called Goodeidae, which are all found in Mexico. This species was first described in a science journal called Copeia by a scientist named Dolores Kingston. She named the fish francesae to honor Frances H. Miller. Frances and her husband, Robert Rush Miller, helped collect and send the live fish specimens that were studied.
What Does the Golden Skiffia Look Like?
The golden skiffia is a small fish, growing to about 4.3 centimeters (about 1.7 inches) long. It has a head shaped like a wedge and lips that point upwards. Both its upper and lower jaws have 30 to 35 deeply split teeth. Some inner teeth can be split or cone-shaped and are scattered around.
Differences Between Males and Females
Male and female golden skiffia look different, which is called sexual dimorphism. Males have larger fins and a deeper body and head. They also have a notch in their dorsal fin (the one on their back), which females do not have.
Males are a bright gold color, sometimes with a gray tint. This gold color is brightest when they are trying to attract a mate. When they are not courting, the gold color mostly fades from their dorsal, caudal (tail), and anal fins.
Females have a wider body. Both females and young fish are gray-green. They have scattered black spots on their backs and along their lateral line (a special sensing line on their side). Females do not change color during courtship. Both male and female golden skiffia have a black crescent shape just before their tail fin.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The golden skiffia is a special type of fish because it is ovoviviparous. This means it gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs! The young fish grow inside the mother's body.
The mother's right and left ovaries (where eggs develop) are joined together into one organ. This organ can get bigger as the young fish grow inside. While in the ovary, the young fish have special structures called trophotaenia. These structures have three parts with blood vessels and are thought to help the young get nutrients and oxygen from the mother. Newborn fish lose their trophotaenia soon after they are born.
The baby fish develop inside the mother for about 55 to 60 days. A mother usually gives birth to 10 to 15 young fish at a time.
Where the Golden Skiffia Lives and Its Environment
The golden skiffia was declared extinct in the wild in 1996. Before it disappeared, it lived in the Rio Teuchitlán, a river in Jalisco state, Mexico. The part of the river where they lived had a gentle current. The water was murky, and the bottom was made of mud, sand, and silt. Golden skiffia were found in water up to 0.5 meters (about 1.6 feet) deep.
When scientists collected specimens, the riverbanks had many Acacia and Salix trees. The plants in the water included Pistia, Ceratophyllum, Potamogeton, and water hyacinth.
Why They Disappeared
The riverbanks where the golden skiffia lived were heavily affected by human activity. The water also became polluted. In 1976, a type of platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, was found in the river. This fish was not native to the area. It was found that these introduced platyfish outnumbered the golden skiffia by 50 times! The number of golden skiffia dropped very quickly within a year. This was likely because the new fish competed with them for food and space.
Scientists believe the golden skiffia mostly ate food from the bottom of the river. Their stomach contents showed they mainly ate a type of algae called pennate diatoms.
Bringing the Golden Skiffia Back Home
On November 4, 2022, a team of conservationists worked together to bring the golden skiffia back. Groups like Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo and Chester Zoo released about 1,200 golden skiffia into their native Teuchitlán River. These fish were raised in a special breeding program to help save the species.
The project also involved restoring the river's habitat. This meant removing non-native species and other dangers from the river's ecosystem. This reintroduction is part of a larger conservation project called Fish Ark Mexico. This project successfully brought back another fish, the tequila splitfin, to the Teuchitlán River.
Preparing the Fish for Release
To get the fish ready for their return, they were first placed in ponds. This helped them get used to semi-wild conditions. From there, they were checked for parasites and marked. Then, they were moved to special enclosures called mesocosms right in the river. This allowed them to experience and adapt to natural conditions before being fully released. The released fish will be watched for five years to see how their population changes, how they reproduce, and how well they grow in their natural home.
