Poeciliidae

Merry widow livebearer

Phallichthys amates

Dark dorsal edge and eye stripe

• Black
• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• Atlantic Ocean
• Central America and the Caribbean
• Elongated
• Small
• Tropical fish

Phallichthys amates, the merry widow or merry widow livebearer, is a livebearer fish from Central America, the largest and most widespread in its genus. Two subspecies range from Guatemala to Panama. Distinguishing features include the dark dorsal fin edge, a stripe through the eye, and an oversized male copulatory organ (gonopodium).