Hispaniolan gambusia explained

The Hispaniolan gambusia (Gambusia hispaniolae) is a fish endemic to the island of Hispaniola.

Taxonomy

William L. Fink wrote its species description in a 1971 revision of the Gambusia nicaraguensis species group. Some specimens of this species had previously been misidentified as Gambusia dominicensis. Fink named this species after the island of Hispaniola, where this fish is found. The holotype is in the Smithsonian and the type locality is Trou Caïman, Plaine du Cul-de-Sac in Ouest, Haiti.

Phylogeny

One phylogenetic analysis showed that G. hispaniolae is a sister species to G. punctata and G. rhizophorae.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Haiti and the western Dominican Republic. It is normally found in springs which flow into brackish and saline lagoons.

Description

The standard length of the males is 18.1mm29.8mm and the standard length of the females is 19.1mm51.8mm.

Further reading