Zoogoneticus tequila
Zoogoneticus tequila, Tequila splitfin or simply Tequila fish, is a species of goodeid fish (family Goodeidae) from Mexico.[3][4][5] The specific epithet, tequila, derives from the Tequila Volcano, which looms near the type locality.[2]
Tequila splitfin | |
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male above, female below | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
Family: | Goodeidae |
Genus: | Zoogoneticus |
Species: | Z. tequila |
Binomial name | |
Zoogoneticus tequila | |
Distribution and conservation
Zoogoneticus tequila is endemic to the Ameca River basin in west-central Mexico. Its current distribution is restricted to a single spring pool in Teuchitlán, only 4 metres (13 ft) in diameter, where a population consisting of less than 50 adult fish live.[6] Even in this habitat, it is outnumbered by introduced guppies by a factor of six.[7] Before the discovery of the pool population in 2000/2001, Zoogoneticus tequila was generally thought to inhabit rivers; however, no fish could be found in the original habitat and the species was considered extinct in the wild.[1] Introduced fish species have been implicated in the disappearance of Zoogoneticus tequila from its type locality.[1][6] Habitat deterioration may also have contributed. Pollution and water extraction are threats to the pool where the wild population persists. Captive populations are maintained by aquarists.[1]
Description
Along with other Mexican goodeids, Zoogoneticus tequila are viviparous; this led the genus to be originally included in family Poeciliidae.[2] Clutch size is up to 29 young.[1] Males are smaller than females, with standard length up to 4.1 cm (1.6 in) in males and up to 5.8 cm (2.3 in) in females.[2] Total length can reach 7 cm (2.8 in) in females.[3] The sexes can also be distinguished by colouration.[2]
References
- Koeck, M. (2019). "Zoogoneticus tequila". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T169395A1276460. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T169395A1276460.en.
- Webb, S. A.; Miller, R. R. (1998). "Zoogoneticus tequila, a new goodeid fish (Cyprinodontiformes) from the Ameca drainage of Mexico, and a rediagnosis of the genus" (PDF). Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. 725: 1–23.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2016). "Zoogoneticus tequila" in FishBase. January 2016 version.
- Eschmeyer, W. N., R. Fricke, and R. van der Laan (eds) (2 May 2016). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 5 May 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- "Zoogoneticus tequila". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- De La Vega-Salazar, M. Y.; Avila-Luna, E. G.; Macías-Garcia, C. (2003). "Threatened Fishes of the World: Zoogoneticus tequila Webb & Miller 1998 (Goodeidae)". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 68: 14. doi:10.1023/A:1026040727808.
- De La Vega-Salazar, M. Y.; Avila-Luna, E.; Macías-Garcia, C. (2003). "Ecological evaluation of local extinction: the case of two genera of endemic Mexican fish, Zoogoneticus and Skiffa". Biodiversity and Conservation. 12 (10): 2043–2056. doi:10.1023/A:1024155731112.