Heterandria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heterandria |
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| Least killifish (H. formosa), adult female | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Tribe: | Heterandriini |
| Genus: | Heterandria Agassiz, 1853 |
| Type species | |
| Heterandria formosa Girard, 1859
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Heterandria is a group of small fishes. They are known as livebearing fishes. This means they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. These fish belong to the family Poeciliidae.
Most Heterandria species live in Guatemala and nearby areas. This includes parts of Mexico. However, one special type, the midget livebearer (H. formosa), lives in the southeastern United States.
Many fish from the Poeciliidae family are popular aquarium pets. Examples include guppies, mollies, platys, and swordtails. But Heterandria species are not often kept as pets.
The midget livebearer (H. formosa) is an exception. It is sometimes found in aquariums. This is because it is one of the smallest fish species in the world. Its tiny males are probably the smallest fish that are easy to keep as a pet.
Some people might call these fish "killifish". This is because they look a bit like egg-laying fish called Fundulidae (topminnows). But technically, Heterandria are not true killifish.
Understanding Heterandria Species
Scientists group living things based on how they are related. This helps us understand different types of fish. The genus Heterandria has been studied using different methods. These include looking at their genetics and body features.
Originally, three species were listed in this group. But based on new research, scientists found that H. formosa is not closely related to the others. The other species have been moved to their own group called Pseudoxiphophorus.
It is possible that there are more undiscovered species of these fish. They are quite small and hard to spot. However, it is unlikely that many more species are unknown. This is because this group of fish lives in a fairly small area. Only one new species has been found since 1980.
Recognized Heterandria Species
Currently, FishBase recognizes three species in the Heterandria genus:
- Heterandria attenuata D. E. Rosen & R. M. Bailey, 1979
- Heterandria formosa Girard, 1859 (Dwarf livebearer, least killifish)
- Heterandria tuxtlaensis McEachran & T. J. DeWitt, 2008
See also
In Spanish: Heterandria para niños
