Not to be confused with eastern mosquitofish or Heterandria formosa.
Mosquitofish
Female
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Cyprinodontiformes
Family:
Poeciliidae
Genus:
Gambusia
Species:
G. affinis
Binomial name
Gambusia affinis
(S. F. Baird & Girard, 1853)
Synonyms[2]
Heterandria affinis S.F Baird & Girard, 1853
Heterandria patruelis S.F. Baird & Girard, 1853
Gambusia patruelis (S.F. Baird & Girard, 1853)
Zygonectes patruelis (S.F. Baird & Girard, 1853)
Gambusia gracilis Girard, 1859
Zygonectes gracilis (Girard, 1859)
Gambusia humilis Günther, 1866
Haplochilus melanops Cope, 1870
Zygonectes brachypterus Cope, 1880
Zygonectes inurus D.S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1882
Fundulus inurus (D.S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)
The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is a North American freshwater poeciliid fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply mosquitofish or by its generic name, Gambusia, or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is also referred to by these names.
Mosquitofish are small in comparison to many other freshwater fish, with females reaching a maximum length of 7 cm (2.8 in) and males a maximum length of 4 cm (1.6 in). The female can be distinguished from the male by her larger size and a gravid spot at the posterior of her abdomen. The name "mosquitofish" was given because the fish eats mosquito larvae, and has been used more than any other fishes for the biological control of mosquitoes.[3] Gambusia typically eat zooplankton, beetles, mayflies, caddisflies, mites, and other invertebrates; mosquito larvae make up only a small portion of their diet.[4]
Mosquitofish were introduced directly into ecosystems in many parts of the world as a biocontrol[5] to lower mosquito populations which in turn negatively affected many other species in each distinct bioregion.[6] Mosquitofish in Australia are classified as a noxious pest and may have exacerbated the mosquito problem in many areas by outcompeting native invertebrate predators of mosquito larvae. Several counties in California distribute mosquitofish at no charge to residents with human-made fish ponds and pools as part of their mosquito abatement programs.[7][8][9] The fish are made available to residents only and are intended to be used solely on their own property, not introduced into natural habitat. On 24 February 2014, Chennai Corporation in India introduced western mosquitofish in 660 ponds to control the mosquito population in freshwater bodies.[10]
Fertilization is internal; the male secretes milt into the genital aperture of the female through his gonopodium.[3][11] Within 16 to 28 days after mating, the female gives birth to about 60 young.[3][12] The males reach sexual maturity within 43 to 62 days. The females, if born early in the reproductive season, reach sexual maturity within 21 to 28 days; females born later in the season reach sexual maturity the next season, in six to seven months.[13]
^NatureServe (2019). "Gambusia affinis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T166562A58317114. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T166562A58317114.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference fish base was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcCite error: The named reference Smithsonian institution was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Lund, Mark (16 November 2005). Mosquitofish: Friend or Foe? Edith Cowan University.
^Jourdan, Jonas; Riesch, Rüdiger; Cunze, Sarah (2021). "Off to new shores: Climate niche expansion in invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.)". Ecology and Evolution. 11: 18369–18400. doi:10.1002/ece3.8427. PMC 8717293.
^Fryxell, David C.; Moffett, Emma R.; Kinnison, Michael T.; Simon, Kevin S.; Palkovacs, Eric P. (2022). "From southern swamps to cosmopolitan model: Humanity's unfinished history with mosquitofish". Fish and Fisheries. 23: 143–161. doi:10.1111/faf.12604. S2CID 239088797.
^Alameda County Mosquito Abatement Program http://www.mosquitoes.org
^Mosquitofish Archived 9 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Santa Clara County Vector Control District
^Contra Costa County Mosquito and Vector Control District http://www.contracostamosquito.com/
^"Mosquitofish introduced in ponds to tackle mosquito menace". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 23 February 2014 – via Business Standard.
^Cite error: The named reference USBF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Inland Fisheries was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Whiteside, Bobby; Bonner, Timothy; Thomas, Chad; Whiteside, Carolyn. "Gambusia affinis western mosquitofish". Texas State University. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is a North American freshwater poeciliid fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply mosquitofish or by...
The eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis.[citation...
The eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) was introduced to Australia in 1925, and had spread from the northeast coasts to New South Wales, southern...
mosquitofish to the native amphibian population. Researchers observed natural breeding pools of fire salamanders, both with and without mosquitofish....
The dusky millions fish, speckled mosquitofish or the one-spot livebearer (Phalloceros caudimaculatus) is a species of fish native eastern and southern...
often called topminnows, or simply gambusias; they are also known as mosquitofish, which, however, refers more specifically to two species, G. affinis...
gambusia was shrunk due to the construction of dams which allowed western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) to displace them, as the construction of the dams...
biocontrol agents include predatory fish that feed on mosquito larvae such as mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and some cyprinids (carps and minnows) and killifish...
lake is mirror carp, a variety of the common carp Cyprinus carpio. The mosquitofish Gambusia affinis has been introduced in the lake for the biocontrol of...
striders. Vertebrate predators include fish such as catfish and the mosquitofish, amphibians including the spadefoot toad and the giant tree frog, freshwater...
vary. Like some other well-known aquarium fish, such as the guppy and mosquitofish, goldfish (and other carp) are frequently added to stagnant bodies of...
commonly guppies, mollies, platies, swordtails, Endler's livebearer, and mosquitofish. Most of these are ovoviviparous, with the developing embryos receiving...
evaluation should prevent such releases now. The sturdy and prolific eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is a native of the southeastern United States and...
lake is Mirror carp or Cyprinus carpio. Gambusia affinis also called Mosquitofish has been introduced in the lake as a biocontrol measure to control Mosquito...
chub reaches a size that protects them from predation by mosquitofish. Additionally, mosquitofish may even provide a food source as they were found within...
gobies have sucker-like fins for attaching to surfaces; male sharks and mosquitofish use a modified fin to deliver sperm; thresher sharks use their caudal...
populations have been severely affected by the aggressive introduced eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), tilapia cichlids, and pollution. Melanotaeniidae...
being the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), rosy barb (Barbus conchonius), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), Nemacheilus species, Crossocheilus latius, and various...
salmon, redfin perch, common carp, and mosquitofish, have been introduced to Australian waterways. The mosquitofish is a particularly aggressive species...
Abnormal expression of secondary sex characters in a population of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis holbrooki: evidence for environmentally-induced masculinization...
carp, red shiner, channel catfish, white catfish, largemouth bass, mosquitofish, and sailfin molly. Tilapia populations have reached such low volumes...
Killifish Fundulus parvipinnis Y Rainwater Killifish Lucania parva Y Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis Y Sailfin Molly Poecilla latipinna Y Porthole Livebearer...
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