Melody
May 16th 2007, 06:10 PM
Poecilia kykesis/petenensis
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-Kykesis-M-4.jpg
{Young adult male}
Scientific name: Poecilia kykesis (petenensis)
Family: Poeciliidae
Origin: Lake Peten, Guatemala
Adult size: 6-7" - Believed to be the largest of all Mollies.
Tank Specs:
Minimum Tank Size: 30G
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): pH: 6.5-8, prefers higher pH & harder water, but adaptable.
Temperature: 68-85F
Special Requirements: At least weekly water changes.Suitable Tankmates: Most community fish, no fin-nippers or Bettas.
Minimum Group Size: N/A
Diet: Omnivore requiring more vegetable content than the average Omnivore.
Sexing: Males have a gonopodium and sailfin dorsal.
Breeding and Reproduction: Livebearers. May have Winter diapause. Brood size 30-200, every 28-45 days. Females can store sperm for up to 8 months.
Notes: This stunning Sailfin Molly is a sight to behold at full size. It has a blue/mauve sheen on the body with red & black finnage highlighted with blue reflective spots. Its claim to fame is the short 'sword' extension in the tail.
Poecilia kykesis is a name that comes with some controversy as some say it should be P. petenensis. The first fish dubbed petenensis was actually a short-finned Molly from the same lake. That was in the 1860's, when we still used 'Mollienesia' for the Mollies. Later on the short-finned Molly was renamed Mollienesia gracilis. A Sailfin from the same lake (the fish in question) was then given the name Mollienesia petenensis. That's where we fetch up - according to the rules that govern these things, you are not supposed to use the same species name twice, which would have rendered the name Mollienesia petenensis for the Sailfin Molly, invalid.
In 2002, this Sailfin was given the name Poecilia kykesis. However, it was later ruled that since the name petenensis had been used for so long, we should continue to use it. It is disputed to this day as not being a good enough reason to use an invalid name. I don't know if it has changed officially or not, but I suspect that it will if it hasn't, so I use P. kykesis. Using that name also differentiates it if one is trying to share the history of the short-finned Molly originating from the same lake. M. gracilis also lost its name when it was lumped under P. Sphenops, a classification which is also under review now that we know how diverse the P. sphenops populations can be.
This is a magnificent fish that is rarely seen in the hobby. My particular population is from a University collection. I will try to get better pictures of the sail at full mast & post them later. The photos currently posted are of a young male who does not yet have his full sail or deep body, full colour & incredible length.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-Kykesis-Male.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-Kykesis-M-2.jpg
©
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-Kykesis-M-4.jpg
{Young adult male}
Scientific name: Poecilia kykesis (petenensis)
Family: Poeciliidae
Origin: Lake Peten, Guatemala
Adult size: 6-7" - Believed to be the largest of all Mollies.
Tank Specs:
Minimum Tank Size: 30G
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): pH: 6.5-8, prefers higher pH & harder water, but adaptable.
Temperature: 68-85F
Special Requirements: At least weekly water changes.Suitable Tankmates: Most community fish, no fin-nippers or Bettas.
Minimum Group Size: N/A
Diet: Omnivore requiring more vegetable content than the average Omnivore.
Sexing: Males have a gonopodium and sailfin dorsal.
Breeding and Reproduction: Livebearers. May have Winter diapause. Brood size 30-200, every 28-45 days. Females can store sperm for up to 8 months.
Notes: This stunning Sailfin Molly is a sight to behold at full size. It has a blue/mauve sheen on the body with red & black finnage highlighted with blue reflective spots. Its claim to fame is the short 'sword' extension in the tail.
Poecilia kykesis is a name that comes with some controversy as some say it should be P. petenensis. The first fish dubbed petenensis was actually a short-finned Molly from the same lake. That was in the 1860's, when we still used 'Mollienesia' for the Mollies. Later on the short-finned Molly was renamed Mollienesia gracilis. A Sailfin from the same lake (the fish in question) was then given the name Mollienesia petenensis. That's where we fetch up - according to the rules that govern these things, you are not supposed to use the same species name twice, which would have rendered the name Mollienesia petenensis for the Sailfin Molly, invalid.
In 2002, this Sailfin was given the name Poecilia kykesis. However, it was later ruled that since the name petenensis had been used for so long, we should continue to use it. It is disputed to this day as not being a good enough reason to use an invalid name. I don't know if it has changed officially or not, but I suspect that it will if it hasn't, so I use P. kykesis. Using that name also differentiates it if one is trying to share the history of the short-finned Molly originating from the same lake. M. gracilis also lost its name when it was lumped under P. Sphenops, a classification which is also under review now that we know how diverse the P. sphenops populations can be.
This is a magnificent fish that is rarely seen in the hobby. My particular population is from a University collection. I will try to get better pictures of the sail at full mast & post them later. The photos currently posted are of a young male who does not yet have his full sail or deep body, full colour & incredible length.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-Kykesis-Male.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-Kykesis-M-2.jpg
©