Stats

Lifespan

2-5 years

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

Americas and Africa

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

These small freshwater fish inhabit rivers from the southern United States to Argentina. Females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming young instead of laying eggs.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Cyprinodontiformes

Family

Poeciliidae