Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305–330 Received: June 23, 2017 © 2017 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: August 11, 2017 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.7508/iji.2016.02.015 http://www.ijichthyol.org

Review Article Review of the livebearer fishes of Iran (Family Poeciliidae)

Brian W. COAD

Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4 Canada.

Email: [email protected]

Abstract: The systematics, morphology, distribution, biology and economic importance of the livebearers of Iran are described, the species are illustrated, and a bibliography on these fishes in Iran is provided. There are four species including Gambusia holbrooki, Poecilia latipinna, P. reticulata and Xiphophorus hellerii. All of these species are exotics.

Keywords: Biology, Morphology, Gambusia, Poecilia, Xiphophorus. Citation: Coad B.W. 2017. Review of the livebearer fishes of Iran (Family Poeciliidae). Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 4(4): 305-330.

Introduction Other examples of poeciliids available in Iran The freshwater ichthyofauna of Iran comprises a and potential escapees are the molly, Poecilia diverse set of about 288 species in 107 genera, 28 sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 (e.g., Rabiei & Ziaei families, 22 orders and 3 classes (Esmaeili et al. Nejad 2013; Moghaddam et al. 2014; Pour et al. 2017a). These form important elements of the aquatic 2014), the southern platyfish, Xiphophorus ecosystem and a number of species are of maculatus (Günther, 1866) (e.g., Shoaibi Omrani et commercial or other significance. The literature on al. 2010; Tarkhani & Imanpoor 2012; Sadeghi & these fishes is widely scattered, both in time and Imanpour 2015; Alishahi et al. 2016) and the variable place. Summaries of the morphology and biology of platyfish, Xiphophorus variatus (Meek, 1904) (e.g., these species were given in a website (www.brian Faghani-Langroudi et al. 2014). Poeciliids serve as a coad.com) which is updated here for one family, paradigm for exotic aquarium fish introductions in while the relevant section of that website is now Iran. They compete with native fishes for food and closed down. Other families will also be addressed in living space, and carry exotic parasites (e.g., see a similar fashion. Sahandi et al. 2012; Momeni Shahraki et al. 2014; ArchiveShafiei of et al. 2014SID; Adel et al. 2015; Mirzaei 2015; Family Poeciliidae Raissy et al. 2015; Salemi et al. 2015; Mirzaei et al. Poeciliids, including the livebearers, are found in 2016). These parasite records are from aquarium fresh and brackish waters from the eastern United specimens but indicate the potential for infection of States south through the Caribbean to northeastern native fishes. Kiani et al. (2016) reported the cholera Argentina and in Africa. There are about 42 genera pathogen from fish farms at Kashan. with about 353 species (Nelson et al. 2016). One (or This family is characterised by an anteriorly two) species of livebearer has been widely introduced rounded and posteriorly compressed body and a around the world as a control agent for malaria and is depressed head, large cycloid scales on the head and found in Iran, along with three released aquarium body, supraorbital pores with neuromasts in fleshy species. grooves, a small, terminal mouth with the lower jaw

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Fig.1. Gambusia affinis, Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. projecting, teeth incisor-like or villiform on the jaws, business, such as the guppy and swordtail, while the gill membranes free from the isthmus, 4-6 mosquitofish has been used world-wide as a predator branchiostegals, no spiny fin rays, a small dorsal fin, on aquatic mosquito larvae, the adult fly being a pectoral fins set high on the side (in contrast to carrier of malaria. Kashan in central Iran has more Cyprinodontidae), anterior pelvic fins, no adipose than 1,500 fish farms which produce over 40% of the fin, and the anal fin in males is developed into a ornamental fishes in Iran (Mousavi-Sabet & Eagderi copulatory organ with rays 3-5 modified while 2014). Livebearers have also been used extensively females have a rounded anal fin (in livebearers only, in genetics research, research on tumours, in the species found in Iran, in contrast to immunology, and in environmentally-based studies. Cyprinodontidae). Maximum size is 20cm. Some such studies carried out in Iran are cited here, The gonopodium is used for transferring sperm but this is not an exhaustive survey as this paper is packets into the female. It is moveable to the side or concerned with biology in the natural environment forward to allow copulation to occur. The sperm rather than under laboratory conditions. packets release sperm when placed in the female and Some livebearers are all-female species and egg some can be stored for future use. Details of development is stimulated by spermatozoa from gonopodium anatomy are important in identifying another species, without any genetic contribution. and classifying species. The gonopodium is Young are identical to the mother. This unusual form composed primarily of the third, fourth and fifth anal of reproduction is called gynogenesis. Others have rays with various hooks, serrae and spines. Young are superfetation where eggs are at different develop- born alive, a condition knownArchive as ovoviviparity where mental of stages SIDwithin the mother and are born over a the eggs develop and hatch in the mother. period of several days rather than all at once. Livebearers are found in habitats from mountain streams to brackish coastal marshes and river Genus Gambusia Poey, 1854 mouths. Food is mostly encrusting algae and the This genus contains about 45 species and is associated, small invertebrates. Males tend to be characterised by large scales, short dorsal and anal smaller than females and more brightly coloured. fins, the anal fin in males anteriorly placed and These colours are best seen during the courtship modified into a long intromittent organ (or display. Males tend to have reduced growth rates gonopodium), dorsal fin inserted behind the anal fin when reaching maturity. origin (in contrast to Aphanius, Cyprinodontidae), Certain species are important in the aquarium and dorsal and caudal fins are spotted. 306 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

Fig.2. Line drawing of Gambusia holbrooki by S. Laurie-Bourque.

Gambusia holbrooki was considered to be a Introduced populations world-wide are generally subspecies of Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard, referred to the taxon holbrooki. 1853). Iranian mosquitofish are G. holbrooki but it is Key characters: This species is differentiated from possible that some populations consist of G. affinis the sailfin molly by the lower number of dorsal fin although none were seen by me or by Holčík & Oláh rays and from it and other poeciliids in Iran by their (1992). Shakirova & Sukhanova (1994) report this colour patterns. Males are easily recognised by the species from the Atrek River in Turkmenistan, which anal fin rays 3-5 being specially modified into an flows into Iran, as well as Kopetdag streams on the elongate gonopodium for intromittent fertilisation. northern border of Iran. However, identification of Gambusia holbrooki has 8 dorsal and 11 anal total fin these taxa may be confused. The source of most (? rays while G. affinis has 6-7 dorsal and 10 anal total all) Middle East mosquitofish is Europe and Kottelat fin rays (Walters & Freeman 2000). & Freyhof (2007) record that there is no confirmed Morphology: Dorsal fin with 5-9 rays, usually 7 (with presence of G. affinis in Europe. the last two counted as one), anal fin with 7-11 rays, usually 10, and pectoral fin with 11-14 rays. Lateral Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 scale rows number 25-33. In males, the posterior (Figs. 2-3) surface of the third anal fin ray (first ray of the Common names: Gambusia. [Gambuzi, zoory, zurry gonopodium) is serrated (smooth in affinis), the or zurri in Arabic; gambuziya in Azerbaijan; cusps of the posterior branch of the second elongate gambuziya in Russian; mosquitofish; eastern ray are short and almost straight (long and curved in mosquitofish (for holbrookiArchive, western mosquitofish affinis of), and theSID apical hook of the posterior branch for affinis); plague minnow, in reference to its of this ray is short with 2-3 joints (very long with 4- ecological impact]. 6 joints). Vertebrae 28-34. The karyotype is 2n=48. Systematics: Gambusia holbrooki was originally Detailed counts on Iranian specimens were not made; described from eastern Florida and South Carolina, examination of cleared and stained material indicates U.S.A. Wooten et al. (1988) distinguish the eastern that the species in Iran and Iraq is G. holbrooki. and western mosquitofish in the U.S.A. based on Sedaghat et al. (2012) compared summer and morphology, biochemistry and distribution. autumn samples from the Dinor River, Kermanshah However, extensive hybridization occurs in the for 8 meristic and 28 morphometric characters and native habitat and the composition of all the found seasonal morphometric differences in females. introduced Iranian populations has not been studied. Sexual dimorphism: Males reach a smaller adult size

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Fig.3. Gambusia holbrooki from the Namak Lake basin, courtesy of H.R. Esmaeili. than females (see below). Males have the end of the additional samples were collected in 1966 for anal fin base well ahead of the beginning of the dorsal introduction around the country via raising ponds to fin. Females lack a gonopodium and the end of the over 3,000 permanent water bodies (Tabibzadeh et al. anal fin is under the beginning of the dorsal fin. In 1970a, 1970b; Spillman 1972; Emadi 1996) addition various morphometric characters differ including marshes, ponds, lakes, qanats, streams and widely (see Abdurakhmanov (1962) for details). rivers. Many of these contained fishes but some were Colour: Males are translucent grey to light olive with previously fishless or at least now appear to contain a blue, green or purplish sheen on the sides and only mosquitofish, e.g., springs at Kahurak and opercle. The back is olive-brown to yellowish-brown Hormak in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Over and the belly silvery or yellowish. A dark bar passes 1.5 million fish were distributed in 1969 alone through the eye. The iris has a purple sheen. The (Tabibzadeh et al. 1970b). This species is now the flanks may appear spotted as pigment margins the most widely distributed fish in Iran, found in all scales to form a diamond pattern on the body. Dorsal basins and on islands in the Persian Gulf such as and caudal fins are spotted and a dusky, light tan but Qeshm Island (Coad 1996, 2000; Abbasi et al. 1999, other fins are clear. Adult females have a large, 2005, 2007, 2009; Kiabi et al. 1999; Abdoli 2000; triangular, bluish-purple blotch on the lower flank Mostafavi & Abdoli 2003; Khara et al. 2004; Nezami behind the pectoral fin (called the gravid spot). The & Khara 2004; Barzegar & Jalali Jafari 2006; black peritoneum can be seen through the body wall. Banagar et al. 2008; Coad 2008; Patimar 2007, 2008, Melanistic forms occur, more common in males. Johari et al. 2010; Teimori et al. 2010; Rezaei Tavabe Size: Reaches 63.0mm in females and 45.4mm in & Azarnivand 2013; Gholizadeh et al. 2014; males (Tabibzadeh et al. 1970aArchive; Vargas & de Sostoa Yahyazadeh of etSID al. 2014; Esmaeili et al. 2014, 2015, 1996), perhaps to 8.0cm in the largest females 2015; Jouladeh Roudbar et al. 2015, 2015; personal (Reshetnikov 2002). observations 1976-2000). Distribution: The natural distribution is from New Zoogeography: This species is an exotic, originating Jersey southward to northern Mexico but it has been in eastern and southern North America and introduced to all continents except Antarctica. This introduced to Iran from stocks introduced to Italy and species was first introduced to the Ghazian marshes from Baku in Azerbaijan. of the Caspian littoral of Iran in 1922-1930. Some Habitat: Mosquitofish are normally inhabitants of mosquitofish may have spread from the Lenkoran clear and weedy streams and ditches, weedy margins District of Azerbaijan, reaching the Sefid River in of large rivers and lakes, marshes and brackish 1937 (Shukolyukov 1949). From the Ghazian stock, coastal lagoons, usually over mud or sand bottoms. 308 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

They prefer more open waters with less vegetation young several times a year, and (9) high aggression than the cyprinodontid Aphanius dispar, for example. levels. In Iran they are also common in springs and qanats. Age and growth: Numbers of each sex in a population Males and females in aquaria swam together in a vary between localities, mostly females predominate mixed school in contrast to the sexually segregated over males. Males are more sensitive to temperature schools of Aphanius dispar (Al-Daham et al. 1977). extremes, starving and overcrowding and this will In the Anzali Talab, dense schools are found in affect such things as size and age at maturity. Males surface waters of areas covered by submerged and do not grow much after sexual maturity is attained floating vegetation while deeper water is fishless but females have indeterminate growth, although (Holčík & Oláh 1992). In Iran, it is one of two most growth slows as energy is put into egg production. abundant species in Caspian wetland areas along with The average condition factor for males was 1.2369 Carassius auratus (Iranian Fisheries Research and and for females 1.0906 in southern Iraq. The Training Organization Newsletter 19: 4, 1998). condition factor slowly decreases as length increases Al-Daham & Bhatti (1977) found G. affinis, in the male and vice versa for females (Huq et al. probably this species, to have a complete tolerance of 1977). Sexual maturity can be reached in only 2-3 10.25‰ sea water and 90% of fish survived 20.5‰ months but such fish die before winter. Minimal size for 24 hours and even as high as 58‰. This species for maturity is 16-28mm total length. In the has been reported to survive in waters up to 42°C and laboratory under ideal conditions sexual maturity can as low as 0.5°C. Summer air temperatures of 45°C be attained in 3 weeks. Life span seldom exceeds 15 and winter temperatures several degrees below zero months, although the range is 6-24+ months are survived as long as the water is deep enough depending on when in the spawning season the fish (Tabibzadeh et al. 1970a). Upper and lower thermal was born. In Spain, maximum ages are 2+ for females tolerance increases with body size (Al-Habbib & and 0+ for males (Vargas & de Sostoa 1996). Fish Yacoob 1993). At temperatures below 15-18°C, born late in the year may not mature until the mosquitofish grow but do not mature or breed. They following year. prefer a temperature of 31°C. Growth to maturity can be so rapid that a 50-fold Muddy and polluted conditions, acid to alkaline increase in numbers can occur over a 10-week period. water, and dissolved oxygen less than 1mg/l are Densities may reach over half a million fish per survived by this species. pH range survived is 4.46- hectare. Under ideal conditions it is theoretically 10.2 and dissolved oxygen levels as low as 0.2- possible for 10 pregnant females to produce 5 million 0.4mg/l as long as water surface access is available. fish in 6 months. They can take advantage of the oxygen rich surface Esmaeili & Ebrahimi (2006) give a significant layer as they position their bodiesArchive with flattened head length of-weight SIDrelationship based on 35 Iranian fish and back immediately adjacent to the air-water measuring 1.98-3.27cm standard length. The a-value interface. was 0.0190 and the b-value 3.214 (a b-value <3 Their success in Iran and other waters world- indicating a fish that becomes less rotund as length wide is attributed to the following factors according increases and a b-value >3 indicating a fish that to Meffe & Snelson (1989): (1) abundant in original becomes more rotund as length increases). Taghavi range, (2) polyphagous, (3) short generation time, (4) Jelodar & Hosseinzadeh Colagar (2010) examined a single female can colonise since livebearer, (5) fish (identified as G. affinis) from the Babol River broad physiological tolerances, (6) closely associated and found b values of 2.978 for females and 3.1211 with man, (7) high genetic variability, (8) specialized for males indicating isometric growth. reproduction with moderate numbers of advanced Patimar et al. (2011) evaluated fish from the 309 www.SID.ir Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305-330

Tajin River in the Caspian Sea basin of Iran and changes in size frequencies of zooplankton found maximum observed ages of 0+ for males and populations. 1+ for females. Negative allometric growth occurred Food is taken at or near the surface and by in males (b=2.442) and positive allometric growth in grazing on plants and rocks. Tabibzadeh et al. females (b=3.232), males having a lower fitness (1970a, 1970b) record diet as molluscs, aquatic therefore. Sedaghat & Hoseini (2012) examined fish insects and various forms of mosquito larvae. They from the Dinor River, Kermanshah and found report up to 94 pupae or 104 mosquito fourth-stage positive allometric growth for females where larvae eaten per day by this fish and effective W=0.06L3.49 and isometry for males here W= clearance of springs and marshes. Large-sized 0.05L2.87. Fattahi et al. (2013) examined fish from 6 mosquitofish took more than 500 second instar localities in Golestan Province and found an age mosquito larvae per day and medium- and large-sized range of 0+ to 2+ years. Naderi et al. (2013) studied mosquitofish consumed 22-64 fourth instar larvae fish from a spring and a subterranean location near per day in an Iraqi study under laboratory conditions Fasa, Fars. Females outnumbered males, there were (Mohsen et al. 1989). Abdoli (2000) lists Diptera and two age groups 0+ and 1+, the condition coefficient Chironomidae as food items. Meffe & Snelson was higher in males, in 0+ fish and in spring samples (1989) report predatory behaviour on the young of for both locations, and growth was negative other species of fish and females attack other fishes, allometric in males and positive allometric in shredding fins and sometimes causing mortality. females. Eagderi & Radkhah (2015) gave b values of Reproduction: Patimar et al. (2012) found Iranian 3.086, 2.986 and 3.763 for populations in the Caspian fish matured between February and July Gamasiab River (Tigris River basin), Sirzar River with the highest gonadosomatic index in May. Egg (Hari River basin) and Kashmar area (Khorasan), the diameters reached 3.0mm and absolute fecundity first two isometric and the last positive allometric varied from 7 to 57 eggs. Females dominated in the growth patterns. Condition factors were 0.99, 1.13 sex ratio (1:2.15). An increase in female size was and 0.78 respectively, the first two indicating good correlated with a decrease in relative fecundity. environmental conditions and the latter, a small pond, Na'ama & Al-Hassan (1989) report G. affinis indicating poor conditions. Ghojoghi et al. (2016) (presumably G. holbrooki) to have a brood size up to examined fish from Golestan Dam Lake and found 48 from Baghdad specimens and 51 from the Basrah females were larger than males, sex ratio was 1:1.86, area, Iraq. The smallest reproductive female was and b was 3.2725 (positive allometric growth). 1.7cm total length. Weight is the most accurate Food: Generally this species is regarded as an predictor of brood size. In Iran, Tabibzadeh et al. opportunistic omnivore. Swanson et al. (1996) refer (1970a) found that females mature and reproduce to this fish as an aggressiveArchive predator and Al-Daham within of 2 months SID at temperatures above 15°C. In less et al. (1977) for southern Iraqi fish considered it to be favourable conditions this may take 8-10 months. A a carnivore, feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects minimum photoperiod of 12.5-13 hours is necessary including spiders, ants, beetles and mites, and also to stimulate reproduction although year-round filamentous algae. Females are cannibals. Food temperatures above 20°C can offset this light includes diatoms, algae, worms, crustaceans requirement. About 17 days after fertilisation, the including zooplankton, insects, snails, other fishes female gives birth to as many as 428 live fish over a and amphibian larvae. The mosquitofish is dependent period of about 1 month after 3-8 weeks gestation. on sight to detect and attack prey. Selection of Each fertilisation can give 2-3 broods and each zooplankton can lead to an increase in phytoplankton female can produce up to 9 broods during her life, numbers (and thus affect water quality) and to although 2-5 is more usual. Six fish populations 310 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

examined by Fattahi et al. (2103) from Golestan However to be effective, this fish must have aquatic Province were dominated by females, gonadosomatic plants cleared from its habitat. Al-Daham et al. indices were higher in females (the highest mean (1977) found that Aphanius dispar in aquaria ate value was 38.6 for Almagol Wetland females in April mosquito larvae "eagerly" compared to "very and 2.8 for Golestan Dam males in May, and absolute eagerly" for Gambusia holbrooki. Ahmed et al. fecundity varied from 274 in Alamagol Wetland to (1988) and Beidas & White (1982) compare 83 in the Voshmgir Dam. Fish from the Fasa area larvivorous fishes. Yaser et al. (2010) found that in studied by Naderi et al. (2013) had an average the Kazerun district of Fars Province, mosquitofish number of eggs at 24.48 (range 2-81) in a (recorded as G. affinis) successfully reduced subterranean location and 19.08 (range 1-86) in a mosquito larval densities (505 to 79 larvae) but was spring. not as effective as the biolarvicides Bacillus The breeding season extends from April to thuringiensis (421 to 0) and chlorpyrifos-methyl (421 November in favourable conditions, May to to 14). September in more temperate conditions. Several The mosquitofish is also a predator on the eggs months pass between successive spawnings. Eggs are and young of other, native fishes and a competitor for up to 1.8mm in diameter when mature and embryos food, and it alters ecosystems by greatly reducing are about 6-8mm at birth. The young are protected rotifer, crustacean and insect populations allowing within the female and are independent when born, phytoplankton to increase dramatically (Myers 1965; with resulting low mortality. Environmental breeding Tabibzadeh et al. 1970a; Hurlbert et al. 1972; requirements are simple and with low mortality Edrissian 2006; Chandra et al. 2008). Zaim (1987) results in the successful spread of this exotic. noted that mosquitofish have limitations in malaria The small male approaches the female from control as they are handicapped by matted vegetation behind and with a rapid motion inserts his at the water surface, by running water and by the gonopodium tip into the female. The gravid spot is a inability to breed in very small bodies of water. Muus releasing stimulus. It indicates a receptive female and & Dahlstrøm (1999) mention that the mosquitofish also is a target for the male gonopodium. Sperm are tends to oust native toothcarps. Keivany & Esmaeili transferred in a spermatophore. During mating the (2013) found it to be a threat to native Aphanius gonopodium is angled forward at 140-150°. farsicus (Cyprinodontidae) in Iran. Shahi et al. (2015) Most males copulate without courtship. When found habitats with Gambusia in southern Iran had a courtship occurs it involves the male assuming an s- low abundance of insects such as dragonflies and of shaped position with its body and vibrating in front the native Aphanius. Native species might well be of, or at the side of, the female. Males are aggressive effective predators on mosquito larvae. and dominate smaller malesArchive to restrict access to ofHaas & PalSID (1984) point out that Gambusia may females. Females may be inseminated by several favour schistosomiasis, a human parasite, by altering males and sperm can be stored to be used up to 10 the ecology of freshwaters, perhaps by reducing the months later. A single transplanted female can numbers of natural predators on vectors of this populate a new habitat. parasite. They also note that it is considered a pest by Parasites and predators: Barzegar & Jalali (2009) fish farmers. Muhaisen et al. (1985) studied control reviewed crustacean parasites in Iran and found of this species in Iraq as unwanted larvae on fish Lernaea sp. on this species (as G. affinis). farms and found potassium permanganate, copper Economic importance: This species has been sulphate, acriflavine and malachite green to be introduced widely to combat malaria by consuming effective. the aquatic larvae and pupae of the carrier mosquito. Tabibzadeh et al. (1970a, 1970b), Motabar 311 www.SID.ir Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305-330

(1978) and Swanson et al. (1996) give methods for Conservation: The most widespread fish in Iran and, raising and distributing mosquitofish. It is also used as an exotic, not in need of any protection and now as a research species and is sometimes seen in ineradicable. However, this distribution undoubtedly aquaria. affects the conservation status of native species of Al-Nasiri & Sharma (1978) used this species in fish and invertebrates since mosquitofish have a Iraq to study the toxicity of the agricultural strong impact in small and non-diverse habitats such insecticide Ekatin 25 to fish and Mohsen et al. (1989) as the small springs found throughout Iran. studied the predatory efficiency and tolerance to Sources: Meffe & Snelson (1989) give the ecology mosquito larvicides. Ebrahimpour et al. (2010) and evolution of the family and Rauchenberger examined the acute toxicity of mercuric chloride on (1989) the systematics of the genus. Swanson et al. mosquitofish from the Ebn-e Hesam River in Khosf, (1996) and Pyke (2005, 2008) review biology, eastern Iran, finding an LC5096h of 0.36mg.l. Sharifi culture and mosquito control and are a source for et al. (2010) used this fish (listed as G. affinis and general information above. Further details on collected from a karst spring in the Chehr area of collections examined can be found in the museum eastern Kermanshah) to study the toxicity of catalogues. municipal waste leachates in Kermanshah. The 96-h Iranian material: The following is a sub-sample of acute toxicity test showed the leachates were highly Iranian material as this species is very common and toxic with an LC50 = 12.41% v/v. Taghavi Jelodar & material extensive:- CMNFI 1970-0515, 2, 20.6- Hosseinzadeh Colagar (2010) examined fish 30.2mm standard length, Gilan, Shafa River near (identified as G. affinis) from the Babol River for estuary (37º35'N, 49º09'E); CMNFI 1970-0519, 5, concentrations of the heavy metals cadmium, 14.1-19.5mm standard length, Gilan, Chelvand River chromium, lead and nickel, finding them to be (ca. 38º18'N, ca. 48º52'E); CMNFI 1970-0590, 3, somewhat higher in females. Pourkhabbaz et al. 25.1-29.2mm standard length, Mazandaran, Shesh (2011) determined the LC5096h under experimental Deh River near Babol Sar (ca. 36º43'N, ca. 52º39'E); conditions for copper at 25, 125 and 350mg/l CaCO3 CMNFI 1971-0343, 1, 26.0mm standard length, (hardness levels) was 0.017, 0.17 and 0.65mg/l while Gilan, Langarud at Chemkhaleh (37º13'N, 50º16'E); for zinc it was 0.46, 48.1 and 121.6mg/l, respectively. CMNFI 1979-0019, 26, 15.4-29.0mm standard Kiyani et al. (2013), continuing the previous study, length, Fars, Pol-e Fasa (29º29'N, 52º38'30"E); found that copper toxicity was higher than zinc CMNFI 1979-0025, 2, 28.7-33.8mm standard length, toxicity and both increased with decreasing water Fars, Kor River at Marv Dasht (29º51'N, hardness. An increase in water hardness from 25 to 52º46'30"E); CMNFI 1979-0026, 1, 21.6mm 350mg/l CaCO3 reduced toxicity of copper up to 38- standard length, Fars, Shapur River at Shapur fold and zinc up to 264-fold.Archive Nasirian et al. (2013) (29º47'N, of 51º35'E); SID CMNFI 1979-0126, 53, 14.9- showed that the mosquitofish (identified as 33.1mm standard length, Fars, Dasht-e Arjan springs G. affinis) could be used as a bioindicator of heavy (29º37'N, 51º58'E); CMNFI 1979-0173, 13, 24.7- metal pollution based on samples from the Shadegan 39.6mm standard length, Hormozgan, qanat at Wetland, Khuzestan. It has advantages as a Hajjiabad (28º19'N, 55º54'E); CMNFI 1979-0192, 2, widespread species, easily collected and easily 24.9-26.4mm standard length, Fars, qanat 2km east cultivated in the laboratory. Vajargh and Hedayati of Rostaq (28º26'30"N, 55º04'E); CMNFI 1979- (2014) examined the toxicity of trichlorofon, an 0226, 65, 23.1-39.2mm standard length, Sistan, 3km insecticide that is used to control fish parasites. The east of Kuh-e Khajeh (30º57'N, 61º17'E); CMNFI LC5096h for the mosquitofish was 9.95mg/l, for the 1979-0230, 36, 7.2-44.4mm standard length, Sistan, guppy 9.8mg/l, and for the swordtail 7.99mg/l. Jehil-e Puzak (ca. 31º15'N, ca. 61º42'E); CMNFI 312 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

Fig.4. Poecilia latipinna, line drawing after Coad (2010).

1979-0283, 1, 35.9mm standard length, number, 4, 28.3-38.8mm standard length, Iraq, Kermanshahan, Qareh Su basin (34º21'N, 47º07'E); Baghdad Liwa (no other locality data); BM(NH) no CMNFI 1979-0288, 7, 26.8-29.4mm standard length, catalogue number, 8, 16.8-32.5mm standard length, Ilam and Poshtkuh, Gangir River (33º50'N, 46º18'E); Iraq, Kut Liwa (no other locality data); BM(NH) no CMNFI 1979-0309, 5, 15.4-32.8mm standard length, catalogue number, 2, 20.3-21.9mm standard length, Kerman, Fahraj River (28º57'N, 58º42'E); CMNFI Iraq, Hilla Liwa (no other locality data). 1979-0328, 2, 24.3-24.8mm standard length, Baluchestan, jube near Bampur (27º10'30"N, Genus Poecilia Bloch and Schneider, 1801 60º21'E); CMNFI 1979-0360, 13, 17.8-25.9mm This genus comprises about 43 species from the standard length, Khuzestan, Karkheh River canal southeastern United States south to Rio de la Plata in (31º40'N, 48º35'E); CMNFI 1979-0478, 2, 17.8- South America. It is characterised by large scales, 28.2mm standard length, Mazandaran, ditch 29km long dorsal and short anal fins, the dorsal fin is from Eimar (37º09'N, 54º36'E); CMNFI 1979-0498, inserted behind the anal fin origin, and the anal fin in 2, 22.1-35.8mm standard length, Fars, spring on road males is anteriorly placed and modified into a long to Dariush Dam (30º05'N, 52º27'E); CMNFI 1980- intromittent organ (or gonopodium). Sensory canals 0122, 25, 14.3-26.8mm standard length, are found on the head. Details of the spines and hooks Mazandaran, Nerissi River (36º38'N, 52º16'E); on the gonopodium are diagnostic for the species. CMNFI 1980-0128, 7, 23.6-35.6mm standard length, Species are widely introduced and prominent in the Mazandaran, Qareh Su (36º49'30"N,Archive 54º03'30"E). aquarium of trade. SID CMNFI 1980-0132, 5, 18.4-30.2mm standard length, Gilan, Sefid River at Kisom (37º12'N, 49º54'E); Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821) CMNFI 1980-0145, 75, 32.6-40.4mm standard (Figs. 4-5) length, Gilan, Bandar-e Anzali (37º28'N, 49º27'E). Common names: None. [Sailfin molly or mollie] Comparative material: BM(NH) 1974.5.2:38-40, 3, Systematics: Also appears in literature under the 17.3-25.1mm standard length, Iraq, Baghdad genus Mollienesia Lesueur, 1821, variously mis- (33º21'N, 44º25'E); BM(NH) no catalogue number, spelled (see “Catalog of Fishes”). 6, 10.7-37.5mm standard length, Iraq, Baghdad Liwa Key characters: The large dorsal fin of adult males is (no other locality data); BM(NH) no catalogue distinctive while smaller males and females can be

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speckled forms are known in the wild. Size: Attains 15.0cm total length. Distribution: The native distribution is from North Carolina to northeastern Mexico. Introduced world- wide in suitable environments. In Iran, found in the Esfahan basin in the Jarghhoyeh qanat (Khalaji et al. 2016). Mollies, believed to be the sailfin molly, have been found in the east Hammar Marsh, Garmat Ali Fig.5. Poecilia latipinna after Wikimedia Commons. River and the Shatt al Arab of Iraq as escapees from distinguished by the horizontal rows of spots along aquarium culture ponds south of Basrah (Coad 2010) the flank. It differs from the mosquitofishes by and Khuzestan Province (Esmaeili et al. 2017b). lacking a distinct teardrop mark under the eye and in Zoogeography: An exotic species presumably having the dorsal fin origin anterior to the origin of released from aquaria in Iran and spreading from fish the pelvic fin. farm escapes. Morphology: The head is small and flattened with an Habitat: In its native habitat this species is found in upturned mouth. There are 23-30 lateral series scales, springs, ponds, marshes, lakes, streams, rivers, 12-18 dorsal fin rays in males but only 10-12 in estuaries, ditches and salt marshes. It favours the females, 7-9 anal fin rays modified into a shallow water of stream and pond edges where there gonopodium in males, 11-13 pectoral fin rays, and 6- is some vegetation to hide under, rather than open 7 pelvic rays. water. Currents are none to slow and water depth ids Sexual dimorphism: The second ray of the male usually under 1m. It can tolerate a wide range of pelvic fin is elongated. The dorsal fin is enlarged in salinity, but favours levels below 7‰. It prefers males longer than 45mm standard length (SL) and, warmer temperatures than the mosquitofish. while males from 30-45mm SL show some Breeding populations can occur in brackish or fresh enlargement of the dorsal fin, males less than 30mm water. Low oxygen levels are coped with by reducing SL do not have an enlarged dorsal fin and resemble oxygen consumption and by accessing the oxygen- females. Mature females have a slightly enlarged rich surface film using the superior mouth. This dorsal fin. species is the most relatively abundant fish in the Colour: This species is light grey to pearly on the Garmat Ali River of southern Iraq (Mohamed et al. flank scales over a brownish to bluish background 2017). with an olive-brown to dark or olive-green back. The Age and growth: Male maturity may be attained in a undersides of the head and body are silvery white. few months of birth, or more commonly in the next The sides of head and pectoralArchive area have a golden year. of Males SID may live only 11 months. Females sheen. Up to 9 flank stripes are made up of fine red, outnumber males in most populations. Growth of blue or green dots. The rear part of the flank has 6-7 both sexes is similar in early life but declines in males dark bands. The caudal fin may be margined with as they mature. The largest males are found in less black. Females have 3-4 rows of spots in the dorsal dense populations. fin. Breeding males may take on a greenish-blue Food: This species feeds on plant material such as colour. The male dorsal fin is dotted black on blue green algae and diatoms and on animal material such with an orange-red to yellowish margin. A reddish- as small crustaceans and aquatic insects. Animal orange spot is centred on the upper half of the caudal material is mostly eaten by smaller fish; larger fish fin in males. Young fish have scales outlined with eat more plant material. Mosquito larvae and pupae pigment giving a cross-hatched effect. Melanistic and may be heavily consumed. 314 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

Fig.6. Poecilia reticulata after Wikimedia Commons.

Reproduction: Spawning can occur twice in a year chequered, leucistic, speckled and golden-coloured under suitable conditions, in April-June and August- forms, and also fish showing a variety of fin shapes. October in Florida for example. Copulation is rapid Exotic populations have deleterious effects on native and the female can store sperm. Adult males, >45mm fishes. The species has been used in mosquito standard length, use their colourful, large dorsal fin control, and thereby malaria prevention. to attract the female. Male sexual behaviour rates are Conservation: None required as an exotic. It should higher towards females that have given birth or are be extirpated but continual escapes from Iraqi fish virgins, in contrast to gravid females. Brood size is 6- farms just across the border from Iran probably make 160 young, varying with female size, and broods are this impossible. A single female can easily colonise produced every 21-68 days after 8-10 weeks a new area as she carries sperm and gives birth to live gestation. Populations tend to be mostly female as young. males are exhausted by hyperactive spawning Sources: General aquarium literature. behaviours and, being brightly coloured, more susceptible to predators. Males can inseminate large Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 numbers of females in a short period of time, called (Figs. 6-8) suicidal reproduction. Males can die young without Common names: None. [Guppy, guppie, millions affecting species survival because of sperm storage fish, rainbow fish]. by the female. Systematics: This species has appeared under the Parasites and predators: Khalji et al. (2016) found the genera Lebistes, Girardinus, Acanthophacelus and Jarghoyeh qanat fish to be infected with the Heterandria. protozoans IchthyophthiriusArchive multifilis and Key of characters SID: This species has fewer dorsal fin rays Ichthyobodo sp. which cause the common white spot than the sailfin molly and is differentiated from it and disease or ich familiar in aquarium fishes. other poeciliids in Iran by colour pattern. Economic importance: This species has also been Morphology: The mouth is small and superior with used as an experimental organism in Iran and is weakly spatulate to villiform teeth. The anterior row widely available there from commercial fish farms is the largest and rows diminish in size and pet shops (e.g., Ghiasvand et al. 2009; Sabbaghi posteriorly. Dorsal fin rays 7-8, anal fin rays 8-10, et al. 2010, 2010; Ghazilou & Ghazilou 2011; pectoral fin rays 13-14, pelvic fin rays 5 and lateral Morshedi et al. 2013; Moshayaedi et al. 2015; scales 26-28. The gut is long with many folds. Mousavi-Sabet et al. 2015). Aquarium breeders have Sexual dimorphism: Males are about half the size of developed marbled black, jet black, albino, females and more colourful.

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Fig.7. Poecilia reticulata after Wikimedia Commons. Fig.8. New Year Stamp, 1383. Colour: Overall colour is silver-grey to olive-green as very small streams and densely vegetated lakes or brownish-olive with a metallic sheen. Males have and springs. It is tolerant of salinity. Warm an irregular pattern of green, blue, red and yellow temperatures (22-26°C) and quiet, vegetated water spots on the flank. Males also have ornamental dorsal are necessary for reproduction. The Iranian and caudal fins. Males from the same brood will have specimens were caught in a spring (Mousavi-Sabet & a different colour pattern. Selective breeding has led Eagderi 2014). to a wide range in colour patterns. Pregnant females Age and growth: Males mature at 7 weeks or less and are recognizable by black triangle between anal and females at 10-20 weeks. Life span is about 2-3 years pelvic fins. in the wild. Females of the same size tend to produce Size: Attains 5.0cm standard length in males and more numerous but smaller-sized offspring under 6.0cm standard length in females. high predation. Distribution: The native distribution is from northern Food: This species is a cannibal. Food is Brazil, Venezuela and the Guyanas as well as in the zooplankton, diatoms, small insects and algal Caribbean on Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, and other detritus. Rajaei et al. (2012) experimented with islands. Introduced world-wide in suitable, warm feeding behaviour in aquaria using combinations of environments. In Iran, it is found in the Soleiman hand movements and presence/absence of food. They Spring, Kashan in the Namak Lake basin (see also concluded that this species is a visual feeder at the below under Xiphophorus helleri) (Mousavi-Sabet & surface. Eagderi 2014, Jouladeh-ArchiveRoudbar et al. 2015). Reproduction: of SID Males continuously chase and mate Aquaculture ponds at Kashan breed this fish and may with females. Females mate with multiple males be the source for the specimens in the wild (Kiani et (polyandry), beneficial for males because their al. 2016). reproductive success is directly related to how many Zoogeography: An exotic species released in Iran times they mate. Females are attracted to brightly- from aquaria and/or aquaculture. colored males, especially those with orange spots on Habitat: In its native habitat this species is found in a the flanks. Such males swim longer in a strong wide range of habitats including streams, lakes, current and are presumably more fit. Colouration of ponds, springs, ditches and canals. It tolerates highly males is lessened under heavy predation conditions. turbid water and warm springs but avoids fast water. Females store sperm for later fertilisation and can Areas with low predation pressure are preferred, such produce young every four weeks. Gestation last

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about 4-6 weeks and each female gives birth to 2-200 not an exhaustive treatment. live young, but usually about 20-60. Females are Mirzaee et al. (2012) studied natural and ready for conception shortly after giving birth. There synthetic pigments in the diet of guppies as a source is no parental care. Young fish school and carry out of colour in this popular aquarium species. Tomato, anti-predator behaviour. carrot and red bell pepper were the natural pigments Mousavi-Sabet et al. (2014) gives details of and astaxanthin was the synthetic pigment used. The development of larvae. Guppies are born with mix of natural pigments was useful for its nutritive developed jaws, fins and eye and are capable of qualities and as a source of carotenoid, and was taking food, swimming properly and avoiding cheaper than synthetic pigment, but both added predators immediately after birth. Fish were sexually colour to the skin. Torabiyan et al. (2016) found that mature after 50 days. higher doses of oxymetholone, an androgenic Parasites and predators: No parasites recorded in Iran hormone used to improve colour and form of fish, for wild populations although a teratoma is reported increased mortality (at 800mg/kg of diet) and in a fish from an Iranian ornamental fish farm mortality was higher in females. (Rahmati-holasoo et al. 2014). The fish was a Ebrahimi et al. (2010) showed that adding the conjoined twin, one of which was reabsorbed. Fish in synthetic androgen 17-alpha methyl testosterone to their native habitat fall prey to other fishes and birds the diet increased desirable red pigment in males and and the same must apply to exotic populations. Kiani females but at higher doses larval production failed. et al. (2016) recorded the human pathogens Vibrio Mousavi et al. (2010) found that 300mg/kg of 17- spp., including Vibrio cholera (99% 16SrDNA alpha methyl testosterone in the diet reduced sequence similarity), from this fish in aquaculture mortality. Mousavi-Sabet et al. (2012) dosed guppies ponds at Kashan. with 17-alpha methyltestosterone and found 150- Economic importance: Releases from aquaria have 200mg/kg in the feed resulted in maximum male led to established populations world-wide. This population with the least loss of fish. A dose of exotic has established a breeding population in the 30mg/kg gave the best growth performance. wild in Iran (Mousavi-Sabet & Eagderi 2014). Production of all-male stocks by sex reversal is It is a popular aquarium fish sold world-wide and advantageous to breeders as they command a four is raised on fish farms. There are many standardised times higher price than females. Shafiee et al. (2013) varieties available with different colours and fin showed that a 1:1 sex ratio of males and females gave shapes. These varieties are larger than wild the highest fecundity and survival of fry in contrast individuals. to the usual 1:3 ratio employed in breeding this It has appeared on an Iranian stamp, although the species. Ghaeni et al. (2015) showed that fish fed species name is misspelled.Archive This species has been with of spirulina SID powder (a cyanobacterial dietary introduced outside its native range for mosquito supplement with complete protein and all essential control, but with little effect. It may have negative to amino acids) had better growth and survival. Nazari neutral effects on native fishes. Guppies have been and Roozbehani (2015) investigated the influence of extensively studied for improving their commercial fennel extract (Foeniculum vulgare) as a production in aquaculture and have also been used in phytoestrogenic food supplement in commercial genetic, evolutionary, ecological, behavioural, aquaculture, finding that it increases weight gain and physiological, parasitological and toxicological the fertility rate at 100μl/g. Mousavg et al. (2016) studies in various countries, including Iran, as found that adding 2% dietary garlic improved maintenance in aquaria is well understood. Some immunology while 2% hot red pepper improved laboratory studies from Iran are given here but this is colour. 317 www.SID.ir Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305-330

JavaheriBaboli et al. (2012) experimented infected guppies with viral nervous necrosis to with dried, decapsulated Artemia urmiana cysts as determine pathogenicity. The virus was obtained food for guppy fry. Guppies showed the highest from naturally infected golden grey mullet (Liza survival rate and growth on this diet (compared to aurata), a commercial species, which has suffered decapsulated A. urmiana, A. urmiana nauplii and severe mortalities on the Iranian Caspian Sea coast. artificial food). Farhadian et al. (2013) fed guppy The mullet is not easily adapted to an aquarium larvae live A. urmiana and A. franciscana nauplii and environment for study. Adel et al. (2015) carried out found that suitable densities were 6 and 12 an experimental study to evaluate the pathogenicity nauplii/ml. Larvae starved for 12 hours ate 664 of the bacterium Streptococcus iniae using guppies. nauplii/day for A. urmiana and 880 nauplii/day for Streptococcosis is an important pathogen of farmed A. franciscana at a density of 12 nauplii/ml. Radkhah rainbow trout in Iran. It was concluded that guppies (2014) found that guppy adults consumed more could transmit the disease to other ornamental fishes A. urmiana nauplii than did guppy larvae. Nauplii and to farmed fish. were not suitable food for adult guppies and adult Conservation: None required as an exotic. It should A. urmiana, with more protein content, should be be extirpated and the limited distribution at present used to minimise fish production costs. makes this possible (Mousavi-Sabet & Eagderi Tajari et al. (2012) studied the effects of clove 2014). oil as an anaesthetic on females in concentrations Sources: General aquarium literature and Mousavi- from 50 to 200mg/l, with higher concentrations being Sabet & Eagderi (2014). faster but with slower recovery. Hedayati et al. (2012) used guppies as a model fish to test the acute Genus Xiphophorus Heckel, 1848 toxicity of the pesticides diazinon and deltamethrin, This genus comprises the platyfishes and swordtails showing that the latter was more toxic and that the and is found in Mexico and central America with 25 LC50 values differed from other species of fish. or more species. These are small fishes, 14cm or less, Sadeghi and Hedayati (2014) studied the acute with several members and hybrids important in the toxicity of the herbicides glyphosate (LC5096h= aquarium trade. They are also used in genetic studies. 12.01) and pretilachlor (LC5096h=8.24) and the They have a gonopodium in males as in other insecticide deltamethrin (LC5096h=0.08). Mansouri poeciliids with a unique structure in detail (Rosen et al. (2015) investigated the effect of waterborne 1960). Male swordtails may have a characteristic copper oxide nanoparticles and copper ions on elongate lower caudal fin lobe, the "sword" but this guppies. Copper ions accumulated more than is not always developed in all species and all nanoparticles in gill tissue but nanoparticles caused individuals. more severe histological damageArchive to gill and intestinal of SID tissues. Xiphophorus hellerii Heckel, 1848 Jafari Kenary (2014) combined culture of (Figs. 9-10) “wheat” (an aquatic plant, needle spikerush, Common names: Dom shamshiri. [Swordtail, green Eiocharis acicularis) and guppies in aquaria. Sahandi swordtail, black swordtail, red swordtail] et al. (2013) studied the effect of a probiotic blend Systematics: The trivial name is often wrongly (yeast and Bacillus spores) on growth performance spelled helleri in the literature. and infection resistance and found that this blend can Key characters: The swordtail is characteristic along act as an immune stimulator to treat fish ectoparasites with details of the gonopodium. such as the protozoan Ichthyophthirius multifilis Morphology: The swordtail is medium to large with instead of drugs. Nazari et al. (2014) experimentally a long straight caudal appendage. The terminal 318 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

Fig.9. Xiphophorus hellerii, after Wikimedia Commons. segment of gonopodial ray 3 is produced into a below. Scale rows along the mid-flank are green to crescent-shaped hook and blade, pointed blue, edged with brown and net-like in appearance. distally. Ray 4a curves strongly backward over the The dorsal fin is spotted red or brownish in median blade at an angle greater than 90°. Distal serrae of ray and below the margin rows. Fins are generally a 4p are reduced in size and number, and proximal yellow-green. The belly is white. The sword is a serrae are rather slender. The terminal segment of ray bright yellow or orange-yellow edged more broadly 5a is produced into a claw, several times larger than in black below than above. The black lower edge is the distal serrae of ray 4p. carried forward onto the caudal peduncle. Fish 3 to 4 Dorsal fin branched rays 11-15, anal fin years old can have a totally black sword. Aquarium branched rays 8-10, pectoral fin branched rays 12-13 specimens may be red, green, black and albino, and and pelvic fin branched raysArchive 6. Lateral line scales 26- various of combinations SID of these. 30. Vertebrae usually 30-31. Size: Attains 16.0cm total length, females larger than Sexual dimorphism: The male sword may not always males. develop in aquarium specimens but usually appears Distribution: The native distribution is from southern at 3-4 weeks of age. Mature females have a gravid Mexico to Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. spot in front of the anal fin. Introduced world-wide on all continents except Colour: The overall colour is olive-grey to olive- Antarctica. Specimens were caught in Iran at Jahrom green. There is a light red, dark red dark, violet or (28º29'N, 53º31'E) in the Persis basin, and at Kashan dusky brown longitudinal line or rarely a zig-zag (34º04'N, 51º31'E) and in the Soleiman Spring in stripe on the greenish-yellow flank, and there may be Kashan (33º56'44''N, 51º22'23''E) in the Namak Lake 1-2 reddish stripes above and 1-2 reddish stripes basin (Esmaeili et al. 2010, 2015; Eagderi et al. 2015; 319 www.SID.ir Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305-330

Fig.10. Xiphophorus hellerii, male and female specimens from Jahrom, Fars, courtesy of H. R. Esmaeili.

Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. 2015). Reproduction: This species is a livebearer and is easy Zoogeography: An exotic species presumably to breed in aquaria. Females can produce more than released from aquaria. 180 young at one time, at intervals of about a month. Habitat: In its native habitat this species is found in Adult males can be aggressive to other fishes. A well- streams and rivers but can also occur in canals, developed male sword stimulates females to mature ponds, lagoons, ditches and in warm springs. The and inhibits maturity in younger males. The female Iranian specimens were caught in a small pool, part swordtail can undergo sex reversal, becoming male of a qanat system, and in a spring. Water depth is under certain environmental conditions. Females can usually less than 1.5m. Vegetation can be none to store viable sperm for months. common. The water may be clear to polluted Parasites and predators: None recorded in Iran for and current none to moderate.Archive Adults prefer current wild of populations. SID in streams while the young remain in quieter shore Economic importance: This species is a popular areas. It occurs at both low and relatively high aquarium fish sold world-wide. There are various elevations, up to ca. 1500m. In aquaria this species cultivated forms of this species with variations in prefers slightly alkaline, medium hard water and colour and fin shape. Hybrids with related species temperatures in the 22-28ºC range. occur. Aquarium specimens are raised for sale on fish Age and growth: Sexual maturity is reached after farms in Iran, e.g., at Kashan (Amiri-Moghaddam et eight to twelve months in some reports, three months al. 2010) and research on improving commercial in others. Life span exceeds 4 years. viability carried out. Amiri-Moghaddam et al. Food: Food is crustaceans, insects, worms and plant (2010), Mousavi-Sabet & Ghasemnezhad (2013) and matter, a generalised omnivore. Khiabani et al. (2014) using Iranian-bred fish found

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that 17-α-methyltestosterone could be used to feed supplement improved growth, immunological produce male secondary sexual characteristics in parameters, intestinal microbiota and stress female fish, as the sword-bearing male is the more resistance. Moshayedi et al. (2015) described the valuable aquarium fish. Addition of vitamin E to the allometric growth pattern during early development, diet increased survival rate of these treated fish. important for determining optimal rearing protocols Nasrollahzadeh & Novirian (2014) added red pepper to produce high-quality juveniles. Khalili et al. to the diet of swordtails as synthetic pigments have a (2012) used swordtails in aquaria to test the acute deleterious effect on the environment. A diet with 6% toxicity of two pesticides, diazinon and deltamethrin, red pepper gave a bright red colour to the fish. both being highly toxic. Populations established in Eagderi et al. (2015) examined the effect of the wild as exotics do adversely affect native species, temperature on body shape. Fry exposed to a higher especially when occurring in large numbers. temperature (26ºC as opposed to 17ºC) developed a Conservation: None required as an exotic. It should more dorsal mouth position, deeper head, body and be extirpated if possible. caudal peduncle and a shorter tail length. A deeper Sources: General aquarium literature and Esmaeili et head and dorsal mouth allowed for a larger gill cavity al. (2010). and access to oxygenated surface water, adaptations to decreased dissolved oxygen available at a higher Acknowledgments water temperature. I am indebted to the Department of Biology, Shiraz Khosrojerdi & Rajaei (2012) made an unusual University and the Canadian Museum of Nature, report of this aquarium fish biting a small child from Ottawa for funding of research. Numerous colleagues Mashhad on a finger, causing tissue damage and and co-authors assisted in developing the website on swelling. The swordtail has been used in behavioural, Iranian fishes, providing specimens, data and biomedical (cancer research for example), genetic, photographs and are listed at www.briancoad.com. physiological and toxicological studies in various countries, including Iran, as its maintenance in References aquaria is well understood. Some laboratory studies Abbasi, K.; Moradkhah, S. & Sarpanah, A. N. 2007. from Iran are given below but this is not an Identification and distribution of fish fauna in exhaustive treatment. Hajibeglou & Sudagar (2010) Siahdarvishan River (Anzali Wetland basin). found that female broodstocks benefit from inclusion Pajouhesh va Sazandegi 19(1)(74): 27-39. (In Farsi) of the commercial probiotic Primalac in the diet Abbasi, K.; Nikseresht, K. & Noroozi, H. 2009. Identification of fish population in Agh-Gol, Pir- during their reproductive stage, increasing fry Salman, Gamasiab and Haram-abad wetlands of the production and survival. Hajibeglou & Sudagar Hamadan Province. Journal of Wetland Ecobiology (2011) showed that theArchive commercial prebiotic of SID 1(1): 71-90. (In Farsi) immunogen added to the diet improved the Abbasi, K.; Salavatian, S.M. & Abdollapoor, H. 2005. reproductive performance with higher fry survival, Investigating fish diversity and distribution in the fry production and relative fecundity. Mousavi-Sabet Mahabad-Chai River of the Lake Urmia basin, north- et al. (2013) and Movahedi et al. (2013) examined the western Iran. Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences effects of diet containing live Artemia nauplii 13(4): 75-94. (In Farsi) enriched with unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C, Abbasi, K.; Valipour, A.; Talebi Haghighi, D.; Sarpanah, finding a reduced mortality rate, increased growth A. & Nezami, Sh. 1999. Atlas of Iranian Fishes. performance and increased larval resistance to high Gilan Inland Waters. Gilan Fisheries Research Centre, Rasht. 113 p. (In Farsi) temperature stress. Hoseinifar et al. (2014) found that Abdoli, A. 2000. The Inland Water Fishes of Iran. Iranian using the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus as a 321 www.SID.ir Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305-330

Museum of Nature and Wildlife, Tehran. 378 p. (In Amiri-Moghaddam, J.; Maniei, F.; Mahboobi-Soofiani, Farsi) N. & Asadollah, S. 2010. Use of 17-α- Abdurakhmanov, Yu.A. 1962. Ryby Presnykh vod methyltestosterone for production of male secondary Azerbaidzhana [Freshwater Fishes of Azerbaidzhan]. sexual characteristics in the adult female green Akademii Nauk Azerbaidzhanskoi SSR, Institut swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii). AACL Bioflux Zoologii, Baku. 407 p. 3(1): 1-8. Adel, M.; Ghasempour, F.; Azizi, H.R.; Shateri, M.H. & Banagar, G.R.; Kiabi, B.H.; Homayoonnezhad, I.; Piri, I. Safian, A.R. 2015. Survey of parasite fauna of & Amirian, P. 2008. Biodiversity of fish species in different ornamental freshwater fish species in Iran. Haraz River (an ecological approach). World Veterinary Research Forum 6(1): 75-78. Applied Sciences Journal 5(1): 5-11. Adel, M.; Safari, R.; Moayeri, P.; Nosrati Movaffaq, A. Barzegar, M. & Jalali, B. 2009. Crustacean parasites of and Khalili, E. 2015. Experimental study to evaluate fresh and brackish (Caspian Sea) water fishes of Iran. the pathogenicity of Streptococcus iniae in guppy Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 11: (Poecilia reticulata). International Journal of Aquatic 161-171. Biology 3(2): 68-71. Barzegar, M. & Jalali Jafari, B. 2006. Helminthes, Ahmed, S.S.; Linden, A.L. & Cech, J.J. 1988. A rating Acanthocephala and Crustacean parasites of fishes in system and annotated bibliography for the selection Vahdat Reservoir. Iranian Journal of Veterinary of appropriate, indigenous fish species for mosquito Science 3: 229-234. (In Farsi) and weed control. Bulletin of the Society for Vector Beidas, M.F. & White, G.B. 1982. Comparison of three Ecology 13(1): 1-59. types of larvivorous fish (Aphanius Ruppell, Al-Daham, N. K. & Bhatti, M. N. 1977. Salinity tolerance Gambusia Girard, Poecilia Peters) for predation on of Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard) and anopheline versus culicine larvae. Progress Reports Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). Journal of Fish on Mosquito Studies, London School of Hygiene and Biology 11(4): 309-313. Tropical Medicine 43: 23-24. Al-Daham, N.K.; Huq, M.F. & Sharma, K.P. 1977. Notes Chandra, G.; Bhattacharjee, I.; Chatterjee, S.N. & Ghosh, on the ecology of the genus Aphanius and Gambusia A. 2008. Mosquito control by larvivorous fish. Indian affinis in southern Iraq. Freshwater Biology 7(3): Journal of Medical Research 127(1): 13-27. 245-251. Coad, B.W. 1996. Exotic fish species in the Tigris- Al-Habbib, O.A.M. & Yacoob, M.P. 1993. Effects of Euphrates basin. Zoology in the Middle East, 13:71- acclimation and experience to changing heat and cold 83. shock temperature on lethal temperature and thermal Coad, B.W. 2000. Criteria for assessing the conservation tolerance of Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard) status of taxa (as applied to Iranian freshwater (Poeciliidae). Cybium 17(4): 265-272. fishes). Biologia, Bratislava 55(5): 539-557. Alishahi, M.; Ghanei Motlagh, R.; Tulaby Dezfuly, Z. & Coad, B.W. 2008. Fishes of Tehran Province and adjacent Haghparast Radmard, M. 2016. Case report of severe areas. Shabpareh Publications, Tehran. 244 p. trematode (Digenea: Heterophyidae)Archive infection in Coad, of B.W. 2010.SID Freshwater Fishes of Iraq. Pensoft platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus). The Fourth Publishers, Sofia-Moscow. 294 p. Iranian Conference of Ichthyology, Ferdowsi Eagderi, S.; Poorbagher, H.; Parsazade, F. & Mousavi- University of Mashhad, 20-21 July 2016 (abstract). Sabet, H. 2015. Effects of rearing temperature on the Al-Johany, A.M. & Yousuf, M. 1993. Thermal ecology of body shape of swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) two fresh water fishes Aphanius dispar and during the early development using geometric Gambusia affinis from Central Saudi Arabia. Arab morphometrics. Poeciliid Research 5(1): 24-30. Gulf Journal of Scientific Research 11(2): 241-251. Eagderi, S. & Radkhah, A. 2015. Length-weight Al-Nasiri, S.K. & Sharma, K.P. 1978. Toxicity of Ekatin relationship and condition factor of mosquitofish 25 on Gambusia, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard) (Gambusia holbrooki) in three inland basins of Iran. at different ages. Bulletin of the Biological Research Poeciliid Research 5(1): 39-43. Centre, Baghdad 10: 123-133. Ebrahimi, M. H.; Abbasi, F.; Mahdavi, S. & Rahimi, M. 322 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

2010. Effects of 17-methyl testosterone on the Rohani-Rad, M. & Mousavi-Sabet, H. 2014. Sex secondary sex characteristics, ovarian histology and reversal, mortality rate and growth performance of production of fish larvae in the guppy (Poecilia platy Xiphophorus variatus (Poeciliidae) treated by reticulata). Journal of Marine Sciences and methyltestosterone. Poeciliid Research 4(1): 6-12. Technology 8(3-4): 34-46. Farhadian, O.; Taghavi, D.; Moradipour, A. & Sedaghat, Ebrahimpour, M.; Mosavisefat, M. & Mohabbati, R. R. 2013. Ingestion rate and feeding behavior of 2010. Acute toxicity bioassay of mercuric chloride: guppy (Poecilia reticulata Peters) larvae fed on An alien fish from a river. Toxicological and nauplii of Artemia urmiana and Artemia franciscana. Environmental Chemistry 92(1): 169-173. Journal of Marine Sciences and Technology 11(4): Emadi, H. 1996. The origin of mosquitofish in southern 64-73. regions. Abzeeyan 7(5): 2-3. (In Farsi) Fattahi, N.; Patimar, R. & Bahalkeh, A. 2013. Edrissian, G.H. 2006. Malaria in Iran: past and present Investigation on reproduction biology Gambusia situation. Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1(1): 1-14. (Poeciliidae: Gambusia holbrooki) at Golestan Esmaeili, H.R.; Babai, S.; Gholamifard, A.; Pazira, A.; Province. The First Iranian Conference of Gholamhosseini, A. & Coad, B.W. 2015. Fishes of Ichthyology, Isfahan University of Technology, 15- the Persis region of Iran: an updated checklist and 16 May 2013, p. 56 (abstract). ichthyogeography. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology Ghaeni, M.; Yari, P. & Roomiani, L. 2015. Evaluation of 2(3): 201-223. growth and survival of guppy Poecilia reticulate (sic) Esmaeili, H.R. & Ebrahimi, M. 2006. Length-weight fed by sprirulina powder. The Third Iranian relationships of some freshwater fishes of Iran. Conference of Ichthyology, Shiraz University, Journal of Applied Ichthyology 22: 328-329. Shiraz, 6-7 May 2015 (abstract). Esmaeili, H.R.; Gholamifard, A.; Teimori, A.; Baghbani, Ghazilou, A. & Ghazilou, S. 2011. Single and repeated S. & Coad, B.W. 2010. Xiphophorus hellerii Heckel, exposure to methamphetamine induces altered sexual 1848 (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae), a newly behavior in male sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna introduced fish recorded from natural freshwaters of Lesueur) (Pisces). African Journal of Pharmacy and Iran. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 26(6): 937-938. Pharmacology 5(13): 1619-1622. Esmaeili, H.R.; Teimori, A.; Owfi, F.; Abbasi, K. & Coad, Ghiasvand, Z.; Matinfar, A. & Jamili, Sh. 2009. Survey B.W. 2014. Alien and invasive freshwater fish on photoperiod and sexual ratio effects on species in Iran: Diversity, environmental impacts and reproduction of Poecilia latipinna. Pajouhesh-va- management. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 1(2): Sazandegi 21(4): 16-24. 61-72. Ghojoghi, A.; Bahalkeh, A. & Patimar, R. 2016. Esmaeili, H.R.; Khajepanah, A.; Mehraban, H.; Elmi, A.; Investigation of length-weight relationship in Malekzehi, H. & Pazira, A. 2015. Fishes of the mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki Gilard (sic), Mashkid and Makran basins of Iran: an updated 1859) in Golestan Dam Lake, northern Iran. The checklist and ichthyogeography. Iranian Journal of Fourth Iranian Conference of Ichthyology, Ferdowsi Ichthyology 2(2): 113-132.Archive ofUniversity SID of Mashhad, 20-21 July 2016 (abstract). Esmaeili, H.R.; Mehraban, H.; Abbasi, K.; Eagderi, S.; Gholizadeh, M.; Khosozadeh, F. & Peyvandi, N. 2014. Keivany, Y. & Coad, B. 2017a. Review and updated Study on faunistic of fish fauna in Kelarud River checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, (Babol), (Mazandaran province). Journal of Applied distribution and conservation status. Iranian Journal Ichthyological Research 2(1): 1-10. (In Farsi) of Ichthyology 4(Suppl. 1): 1-115. Haas, R. & Pal, R. 1984. Mosquito larvivorous fishes. Esmaeili, H.R., Masoudi, M., Amini Chermahini, M., Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America Esmaeili, A.H., Zarei, F. & Ebrahimi, M. 2017b. 30(1): 17-25. Invasion of the Neotropical and Nearctic fishes to Hajibeglou, A. & Sudagar, M. 2010. Effect of dietary Iran. FishTaxa 2(3): 126-133 supplementation with probiotic on reproductive Faghani-Langroudi, H.; Esmailpour-Chokami, H.; performance of female livebearing ornamental fish.

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Research Journal of Animal Sciences 4(4): 103-107. Sciences 4(18): 1391-1393. Hajibeglou, A. & Sudagar, M. 2011. Effect of prebiotic Johari, S.A.; Mazloumi, S.; Abdoli, A.; Khajavi, H. & immunogen on reproductive performance in female Asghari, S. 2010. Identification and distribution of swordtail Xiphophorus helleri. Agricultural Journal fish fauna in qanats and standing rivers of Qae’nat 6(4): 155-160. (South Khorasan Province, I.R. Iran). Journal of Hedayati, A.; Tarkhani, R. & Shadi, A. 2012. Toxicity Fisheries 4(1): 115-120. (In Farsi) response of Poecilia reticulata Peters 1859 Jouladeh Roudbar, A.; Eagderi, S. & Esmaeili, H. R. 2015. (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) to some Fishes of the Dasht-e Kavir basin of Iran: an updated agricultural pesticides. Nusantara Bioscience 4(1): 6- checklist. International Journal of Aquatic Biology 10. 3(4): 263-273. Holčík, J. & Oláh, J. 1992. Fish, fisheries and water Jouladeh-Roudbar, A.; Vatandoust, S.; Eagderi, S.; Jafari- quality in Anzali Lagoon and its watershed. Report Kenari, S. & Mosuavi-Sabet, H. 2015. Freshwater prepared for the project - Anzali Lagoon productivity fishes of Iran; an updated checklist. AACL Bioflux and fish stock investigations. Food and Agriculture 8(6): 855-909. Organization, Rome, FI:UNDP/IRA/ 88/001 Field Keivany, Y. & Esmaeili, H.R. 2013. Threatened fishes of Document 2: 109 p. the world: Aphanus farsicus Teimori, Esmaeili and Homski, D.; Goren, M. & Gasith, A. 1994. Comparative Reichenbacher, 2011 (Cyprinodontidae) Croatian evaluation of the larvivorous fish Gambusia affinis Journal of Fisheries 71(4):192-194. and Aphanius dispar as mosquito control agents. Khalaji, M.; Sarkhosh, J.; Amini, S.H.; Siyami, M.; Hydrobiologia 284(2): 137-146. Zangene, M. & Asadolahi, S. 2016. The relation Hoseinifar, Sh.; Roosta, Z.; Hajimoradloo, A. & Vakili, F. between size and parasite load in the molly fish 2014. The effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus as (Poecilia latipinna) of Jarghoyeh qanat, Isfahan feed supplement on skin mucosal immune basin. Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal 25(3): 251- parameters, intestinal microbiota, stress resistance 256. (In Farsi) and growth performance of black swordtail Khalili, M.; Khaleghi, S.R. & Hedayati, A. 2012. Acute (Xiphophorus helleri). Fish and Shellfish toxicity test of two pesticides diazinon and Immunology, DOI:10.1016/j.fsi.2014.12.003. deltamethrin, on swordtail fish (Xiphophorus Huq, M.F.; Al-Daham, N.K. & Sharma, K.P. 1977. helleri). Global Veterinaria 8(5): 541-545. Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Khara, H.; Nezami, S. & Sakari, M. 2004. Fish diversity Aphanius spp. and Gambusia Affinis (sic) from in Boojagh marine and land National Park in the southern Iraq. Wissenschafltliche Zeitschrift der southern part of the Caspian Sea of Iran. Biology in Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität Rostock, Mathematisch- Asia International Conference, Singapore, 7-10 Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe 2: 157-160. December 2004 (abstract). Hurlbert, S.; Zeidler, J. & Fairbanks, D. 1972. Ecosystem Khiabani, A.; Anvarifar, H.; Safaeian, S. & Tahergorabi, alteration by mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) R. 2014. Masculinization of swordtail Xiphophorus predation. Science 175: 639Archive-641. ofhellerii (Cyprinodontiformes:SID Poeciliidae) treated Jafari Kenary, S.S. 2014. Effects of different photoperiod with 17α-methyltestosterone and vitamin E. Global on combined culture of wheat plants (Eleocharis Research Journal of Fishery Science and Aquaculture acicularis) and guppy (Poecilia reticulata).The 1(5): 021-025. Second Iranian Conference of Ichthyology, Faculty Khosrojerdi, H. & Rajaei, N. 2012. Cellulite and necrosis of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, 7- in the case of Xiphophorus helleri bite. 11th 8 May 2014 (abstract). Scientific Congress of Asia Pacific Association of Javaheri-Baboli, M.; Naderi, A.; Mohammadi, G.H. & Medical Toxicology, Hong Kong, 29 November 1 Kalantarhormozi, S. 2012. The potential dried December 2012 (abstract). decapsulated Artemia urmiana cysts on growth and Kiabi, B.H.; Abdoli, A. & Naderi, M. 1999. Status of the survival of guppy fry, Poecilia reticulata. fish fauna in the South Caspian Basin of Iran. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Zoology in the Middle East 18: 57-65. 324 www.SID.ir Coad-livebearer of Iran

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329 www.SID.ir Iran. J. Ichthyol. (December 2017), 4(4): 305–330 Received: June 23, 2017 © 2017 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: August 11, 2017 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi:10.7508/iji.2016.02 http://www.ijichthyol.org

مقاله مروری کپور ماهیان دنداندار زندهزای ایران )خانواده گامبوزیا ماهیان(

برایان کد

موزه تاريخ طبيعي کانادا، اتاوا، انتاريو، K1P 6P4، کانادا.

چکیده: در اين مقاله، سيستماتيک، ريختشناسي، پراکنش، زيستشناسي و اهميت اقتصادي کپور ماهيان دنداندار زندهزاي )گابمبوزيا ماهيان( ايران شرح داده شده، تصاويري از آن ارائه گرديده و فهرستي از منابع موجود درباره اين گونه ليست شده است. در کل چهار گونه شامل P. latipinna, Poecilia reticulata, Xiphophorus hellerii و Gambusia holbrooki از ايران گزارش شده است که همگي ماهيان غير بومي )بيگانه( مي باشند. کلماتکلیدی: زيستشناسي، ريختشناسي، گامبوزيا، مولي، ماهي دم شمشيري.

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