Stats

Lifespan: 1-3 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: School
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: North America
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Live Birth
Defense: Speed
Status: Uncommon

About

The Eastern Mosquitofish is a small livebearing fish native to the eastern United States, notorious for consuming hundreds of mosquito larvae per day. Despite its reputation as a biocontrol agent, it is now considered invasive across much of the world due to its aggressive impact on native aquatic species.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling fry
A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3.
adult
Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Gambusia
Species: Gambusia holbrooki