Belonesox Belizanus j 



WALTER LANKfOY BRIND, F. Z. 5. 



This peculiar aquarium fish is a native 

 of Belize, British Honduras ; hence the 

 specific name belizanus; Belonesox 

 means Silver Gar-pike. Though this 

 name suggests relationship to the pike 

 and pickerel family, the connection is net 

 particularly close, and it is probably as 

 closely akin to our favorite Gambusia 

 affinis holbrooki, which is also live-bear- 

 ing. 



In point of color Belonesox is not re- 

 markable. A dull grayish-olive on the 

 back or dorsal region shades to a bluish 

 leaden tint on the sides ; abdominal area 

 whitish ; gill-covers with a shimmer of 

 metallic green. All the fins are watery- 

 olive or transparent, the anal fin of the 

 male being modified into a conspicuous 

 intromittent organ. A black spot at the 



base of the tail gives the species a cer- 

 tain neatness and finish. Males attain 

 a length of six inches ; females, seven 

 inches. 



The live-bearing pickerel, for such we 

 may call it for sake of popularity, par- 

 takes of the disposition of our native 

 pickerel in its method of feeding and 

 choice of foods. A tender, young fish is 

 the racy tidbit it demands. From a hid- 

 ing place amongst the plants it will rush 

 out to capture and swallow (all practi- 

 cally in one movement) any small fisb 

 luckless enough to venture near. A 

 glance at the illustration is sufficient to 

 give a wholesome conception of the 

 power of the alligator-like jaws of this 

 rapacious rascal. 



A temperature of 70 to 75 degrees, 



