86 Haw aiian F is h e s 



In 1905 the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii appropriated money 

 to hire collectors to introduce mosquito fishes of this family into the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



Only two members of this family have to date become established in 

 the streams of the Territory of Hawaii. 



Killifish 



47-1 Vundtdus grandis 



This minnow is native to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It prefers 

 brackish or somewhat salty water. It was introduced into the Hawaiian 

 Islands as the result of a special legislative appropriation which was part 

 of a campaign to control the mosquitoes. 



Guppy, Rainbow Fish, or Millions 



47-2 Lebistes retkulatus (Peters) 



The guppy measures from one to three inches in length. The females 

 are of a light yellow-olive color, while the males are variously spotted 

 and striped. The males are more slender than the females and have the 

 anal fin modified into an intromittent organ. 



This fish was native to Barbados, Trinidad, and Venezuela and was 

 introduced into the Hawaiian Islands between 1920 and 1922 by Charles 

 Montague Cooke, Jr. It is now widely distributed in our streams from 

 the upper valleys to the sea shores. They swim about in schools just beneath 

 the surface and feed on mosquitoes and other food. They are reported to 

 chase mosquitoes even when they are not hungry and to suck them into 

 the mouth thereby killing them. They later eject them dead. 



THE TOP MINNOW FAMILY 



48 Family Poecilidae 



The members of this family are mostly all small fishes ranging in 

 length from one to several inches. In general, they are brightly colored; 

 the males are smaller than the females and are more gaily colored. The 

 species are numerous and are difficult to determine. 



Most of these fishes are viviparous in their habits and bring forth 

 their young alive. They inhabit fresh water swamps, streams and ditches 

 and a few even enter the sea. 



The top minnows were originally confined to the warmer parts of 

 America. They are very abundant from New England to California and 



