Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846

Hui, Tan Heok, Peng, Kelvin Lim Kok, Huan, Liew Jia, Wei, Low Bi, Hing, Rayson Lim Bock, Beng, Jeffrey Kwik Teik & Yeo, Darren C. J., 2020, The non-native freshwater fishes of Singapore: an annotated compilation, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68, pp. 150-195 : 171-172

Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes , in Cuvier & Valenciennes

( Fig. 68 , CA[SPC])

References. Johnson & Soong, 1963 (as Mollienisia sphenops ); Alfred, 1966a (as Mollienisia sphenops ); Johnson, 1973a (as Mollienisia sphenops ); Johnson, 1973b (as Mollienisia spp. ); Lim & Ng, 1990; Munro, 1990; Ng, 1991; Ng et al., 1993; Fernando & Phang, 1994; Subaraj, 1995; Lever, 1996; Ng & Lim, 1997a, 1997b; Ng & Sivasothi, 1999; Goh et al., 2002; National Parks Board, 2003; Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010; Tan HH et al., 2010; Tan HTW et al., 2010; Jaafar et al., 2012; Leong, 2012; Ng HH & Tan HH, 2013; Tan, 2014d, 2016a; Ng et al., 2015; Ho et al., 2016; Li et al., 2016.

Distribution. MacRitchie Reservoir ( Alfred, 1966a; Tan, 2016a); Pulau Ubin (Subaraj, 1995); Cluny Road drain ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Pandan Canal ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Sungei Sembawang — Senoko ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Mandai coastal streams (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2004); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve ( National Parks Board, 2003); Bedok Reservoir ( Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010); Lower Seletar Reservoir ( Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010); Pandan canal (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2010); Jurong River (Ng HH, pers. obs., 2010); Kranji Reservoir ( Tan HH, 2010); Marina Reservoir (comprising of Singapore River, Rochor canal, Kallang River, Geylang River and Marina Channel; Tan HH et al., 2010); Siglap canal ( Leong, 2012); Punggol Reservoir (Ng HH & Tan HH, 2013); Serangoon Reservoir (Ng HH & Tan HH, 2013); Upper Seletar Reservoir ( Tan, 2014d); Singapore Botanic Gardens (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2015); Central Catchment Nature Reserve — Nee Soon Swamp Forest ( Ho et al., 2016; Li et al., 2016); Yew Tee canal (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2016); West Coast Park marsh pond (Tan HH, pers. obs., November 2016); Bishan Park (Liew JH, pers. obs., 2016). Distribution. Recorded by Ng & Lim (1997a) from canals in Singapore, but no details provided; Woodlands Town Garden ( Anonymous, 1989a); Pulau Tekong ( Lim et al., 2016).

Remarks. Fernando & Phang (1994) noted that the introductions of X. hellerii , X. maculatus and X. variatus into Singapore for ornamental aquaculture probably started in the mid-1940s. This species is occasionally sold as live feed in the ornamental fish trade (Tan HH, pers. obs.).

Figures

Fig. 68. Poecilia sphenops, 50.2 mm SL male (top), 57.0 mm SL female (bottom); Pandan canal.