Fauna
Fish

Common Molly

Poecilia sphenops

Also known as Mexican Molly, Short-finned Molly, Sphenops Molly

Common mollies inhabit slow-moving streams, coastal lagoons, and vegetated estuaries across Mexico and northern Central America. These adaptable livebearers graze constantly on algae and detritus while using modified anal fins called gonopodia for internal fertilization. Females give birth directly to active, free-swimming fry roughly every four weeks, forming loose social shoals that seek shelter among dense aquatic vegetation.

FreshwaterLivebearerOmnivore
Common Molly reference1 / 2
(c) Tereso Hernández Morales, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tereso Hernández Morales · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFilamentous algae, Mosquito larvae, Detrital biofilm
Predators
  • Kingfishers
  • Herons
  • Larger predatory cichlids
ThreatsWater pollution, agricultural runoff, habitat alteration, and introduced predatory fish
HabitatsLowland rivers, freshwater streams, canals, brackish estuaries, and coastal lagoons
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderCyprinodontiformes
  2. FamilyPoeciliidae
  3. GenusPoecilia
  4. SpeciesPoecilia sphenops
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Observation angle: Look along sunny, shallow shallows where shoals congregate to graze on submerged rocks.
  • Movement: Approach stream banks slowly to avoid casting sudden shadows that trigger diving responses.
Related species
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