Poecilia sphenops

Molly
Male molly
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
Synonymy
  • 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 Mexican molly or simply the molly, is a species of poeciliid fish from Central America. It was once understood as a widespread species with numerous local variants ranging from Mexico to Venezuela, but these variants are today considered distinct species belonging to the P. sphenops complex and P. sphenops itself as being native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Due in part to its popularity as an aquarium fish, the species has been introduced outside of its native range, but many records may in fact refer to P. mexicana or other species from the complex. P. sphenops has been crossbred with other mollies, notably P. latipinna and P. velifera, to produce fancy mollies for the ornamental fish trade.