Mosquitofish are small and of a dull grey coloring, with a large abdomen, and have rounded dorsal and caudal fins and an upturned mouth. 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. The males reach sexual maturity within 43 to 62 days. Within 16 to 28 days after mating, the female gives birth to about 60 young. įertilization is internal the male secretes milt into the genital aperture of the female through his gonopodium. On 24 February 2014, Chennai Corporation in India introduced western mosquitofish in 660 ponds to control the mosquito population in freshwater bodies. The fish are made available to residents only and are intended to be used solely on their own property, not introduced into natural habitat. 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. 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. Mosquitofish were introduced directly into ecosystems in many parts of the world as a biocontrol to lower mosquito populations which in turn negatively affected many other species in each distinct bioregion. Gambusia typically eat zooplankton, beetles, mayflies, caddisflies, mites, and other invertebrates mosquito larvae make up only a small portion of their diet. 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. The female can be distinguished from the male by her larger size and a gravid spot at the posterior of her abdomen. 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).
Its sister species, the eastern mosquitofish ( Gambusia holbrooki) is also referred to by these names. The western mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis) is a North American freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply mosquitofish or by its generic name, Gambusia, or by the common name gambezi. Heterandria affinis S.F Baird & Girard, 1853.
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