Is Gambusia and Guppy same?

What are Gambusia fish?

Generically known as Gambusia, this species of fish is used by health departments to curb dengue and malaria. (Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP ) Bred in ponds, wells and other shallow water bodies, these fish are known to check the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.

How big does a Gambusia fish get?

Since then, gambusia have continued to increase their range in many North Island waterways due to natural spread and by further illegal introductions. Gambusia are small fish with a greenish silvery sheen. Mature females grow to 6 cm and males to 3.5 cm.

How can you tell a male from a female Gambusia?

Gambusia have a stout body up to 6 cm long with large, round scales. Females grow larger than males and have a deeper body and have a large, dark spot near the vent. Males are slimmer and have a slender, elongated anal fin. Their colour is usually olive‑brown on the back, blue‑grey on sides and white‑silver on the underside.

Where do Gambusia fish live?

Female (large) and male (small) gambusia. Photo: Gunther Schmida Eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki – also known as plague minnow, gambusia and mosquito fish) are native to south-eastern USA.

What are Gambusia minnows?

Gambusia Minnows or “Mosquitofish” are a multi-purpose minnow stocked primarily as a forage fish for young fish fry and fingerlings. They help establish the bottom of the food chain, which is essential for growing trophy-sized fish.

How big does a Gambusia affinis get?

Fully grown males are slender and about one to one and a half inches long. Females grow larger and more robust, about one and a half to two inches long. At maturity Gambusia affinis are dark olive green on the back and silvery on the sides and belly.

Where do Gambusia live in NSW?

Eastern gambusia are widespread throughout NSW and thrive in shallow slow flowing waterbodies. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and water quality. Eastern gambusia can reproduce several times a year throughout the warmer months. Eggs are fertilised inside the female and take 3 or 4 weeks to develop.

When was Gambusia introduced to New Zealand?

The first shipment of gambusia from the Gulf of Mexico to New Zealand was released into an Auckland Botanical Gardens pond in the 1930s. Little information about successive releases is available, but further transfers into Northland, Taranaki and Wellington in the 1930s are documented.

How many Gambusia affinis populations are there in the Savannah River?

Gene frequency data from samples of Gambusia affinis populations at 76 localities across the Savannah River drainage were used to investigate temporal and spatial patterns in population genetic structure. Localities in the Par Pond system on the Savannah River Plant were sampled in 1971, 1977, and 1979.

How many babies do Gambusia fish have?

Eastern Gambusia are live-bearers. The front rays of the male’s anal fin are modified to form a gonopodium which is used to internally fertilise eggs. Breeding occurs during the warmer months and females produce about 50 live young in each batch with up to 9 batches per year.

When were the mosquitofish introduced to New Zealand?

INTRODUCTION The western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, 1853), and eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, have been introduced worldwide as biological control agents for mosquitoes (Dawes 1991). Gambusia affinis was introduced to New Zealand in 1930 (McDowall 1990) and has since

Is the western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis holbrooki (Girard) used for mosquito control?

Reproduction in the western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis and its use in mosquito control. Ecological Monographs. 18 (1), 1-43. Lloyd L N, 1987. Ecology and distribution of the small native fish of the lower River Murray, South Australia and their interactions with the exotic mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis holbrooki (Girard).

How can you tell the difference between holbrooki and affinis?

As a consequence, it often is not possible to determine if many of the earlier records represent introductions of G. affinis or of G. holbrooki. Gambusia holbrooki can be distinguished from G. affinis by the number of dorsal and anal fin elements and the shape of the gonopodium on males.

What is Gambusia affinis holbrooki?

Ecology and distribution of the small native fish of the lower River Murray, South Australia and their interactions with the exotic mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis holbrooki (Girard). Adelaide, Australia: Dept. of Zoology, University of Adelaide. McAllister D E, 1969.

What kind of fin does a grey affinis have?

G. affinis is a small, stout, robust, dull grey to brown with a terminal and upward pointing mouth adapted for feeding at the surface of the water. It has a small, rounded dorsal fin that originates behind the anal fin. Dorsal fin rays are 7-9 in number, and anal rays are 9-10 ( FishBase, 2004 ).

What is the shape of the GGG affinis?

G. affinis is a small, stout, robust, dull grey to brown with a terminal and upward pointing mouth adapted for feeding at the surface of the water. It has a small, rounded dorsal fin that originates behind the anal fin.

What is the significance of the Gambusia fish?

An insignificant-looking little fish, Cant ­ i”,ir1 ‘1r(ini” is largely responsible for mak­ ing many parts of the world livable for man. In 1918 the great value of Gambusia as an eradicator of the aquatic stages of the mosquito was first clearly shown when these fish were used at Camp Hancock in Augusta, Georgia.

What is Gambusia affinis (Baird&Girard)?

The mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard), in the Philippine islands. Philippine Journal of Science. 12 (3), 177-187.

How many babies does a Gambusia have?

A single gambusia female produces several broods a year and around 50 offspring per brood, offspring which can reach sexual maturity in as little as three to four weeks. Given such prolific reproductive behaviour, gambusia can quickly expand to outnumber native species and take over a waterway once they are introduced.

How many species of fish have been introduced to New Zealand?

Around 20 species of freshwater exotic fish have been introduced into New Zealand. In the early 1900s, early settlers introduced salmon and trout for sport and food. Other fish have been introduced by aquariums and pond fish like goldfish being released into waterways.

What does a holbrooki fish look like?

The male G. holbrooki is about 35 mm standard length whereas the female is larger (up to 60 mm) with a deeper body, the anal fin unmodified and when pregnant, a gravid spot is visible just above the vent ( Lloyd, 1987 ). The fish are mostly translucent grey with a bluish sheen on their sides with a silver belly ( Lloyd, 1987 ).

Are Gambusia affinis and holbrooki different species?

Gambusia affinis and G. holbrooki were long considered subspecies of G. affinis, and were only recently recognized as separate species (Wooten et al. 1988; Rauchenberger 1989; Robins et al. 1991).

What is the purpose of the GGG affinis?

G. affinis has been introduced throughout the world as a mosquito-control agent. It has become a pest in many waterways following initial introductions in the early 1900s. G. affinis is a highly predatory fish, that as well as contro… More… Don’t need the entire report? Generate a print friendly version containing only the sections you need.

What is the difference between gambuisa affinis and G holbrooki?

Gambuisa affinis can be distinguished from G. holbrooki by the number of dorsal and anal fin elements and the shape of the gonopodium on males. Boschung and Mayden (2004) suggest the following combination of characters:

What is a fin on a fish?

Fins are usually the most distinctive anatomical features of a fish. They are composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body with skin covering them and joining them together, either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as seen in sharks.

What are the characteristics of ray finned fish?

Ray-finned fishes form a class of bony fishes called Actinopterygii. Their fins contain spines or rays. A fin may contain only spiny rays, only soft rays, or a combination of both. If both are present, the spiny rays are always anterior. Spines are generally stiff and sharp. Rays are generally soft, flexible, segmented, and may be branched.

Where can Melanotaenia affinis be found?

Melanotaenia affinis is an attractive species that are found in the northern regions of New Guinea.