Poecilia sphenops

Molly
Male molly
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cyprinodontiformes
Family:	Poeciliidae
Genus:	Poecilia
Species:	P. sphenops
Binomial name
Poecilia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846)
Synonyms
Mollienisia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846) Poecilia thermalis Steindachner, 1863 Gambusia modesta Troschel, 1865 Gambusia plumbea Troschel, 1865 Poecilia chisoyensis Günther, 1866 Poecilia dovii Günther, 1866 Poecilia spilurus Günther, 1866 Platypoecilus mentalis Gill, 1877 Poecilia boucardii Steindachner, 1878 Platypoecilus nelsoni Meek, 1904 Platypoecilus tropicus Meek, 1907 Poecilia tenuis Meek, 1907 Poecilia spilonota Regan, 1908 Poecilia caudata Meek, 1909 Mollienesia macrura Hubbs, 1935 Mollienesia vantynei Hubbs, 1935 Mollienesia altissima Hubbs, 1936 Mollienesia pallida de Buen, 1943 Lembesseia parvianalis Fowler, 1949

Poecilia sphenops, called the short-finned molly or common molly, is a poeciliid fish inhabiting freshwater streams, coastal brackish, and marine waters from Mexico to Colombia. The wild-type fishes are dull, silvery in color. The molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. The male mollies generally tend to be mildly aggressive.

Standard size of male fish is 3.2″ (8 cm) and female fish is 4.8″ (12 cm).

Gallery

• 
  A neon orange molly
• 
  A female black molly
• 
  A female spotted molly, 4 years old

References

• "Poecilia sphenops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 January 2006.
• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Poecilia sphenops". FishBase. October 2005 version.
• "Mollies Fish" Detailed information on raising the Molly fish. January 2022 version