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eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)
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eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) specimen
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Poeciliidae

eastern mosquitofish

Gambusia holbrooki

Poeciliid Fish beneath the Atlantic Ocean

  • Cross-climate
  • Subtropical
  • Tropical
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Globally widespread
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Fusiform
  • Small
  • Tropical fish

The eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The eastern mosquitofish is native to the eastern and southern United States from Florida to New Jersey and inland to Alabama and Tennessee, while the western mosquitofish has a larger distribution throughout the United States.

Maximum length
4.7 cm
Body shape
fusiform
Distribution
Introduced worldwide in tropical and subtropical countries. North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from New Jersey south to Alabama in USA (Ref. 5723 ). Established throughout southern Europe (Ref. 59043 ). Introduced for mosquito control, but had rare to non-existing effects on mosquitoes, and negative to perhaps neutral impact on native fishes (Ref. 12217 ).
Conservation status
LCLeast Concern

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