

Limia Caudofasciata 



ERNEST LEITHOLF 



Perhaps in no other class of fishes do 

 we find such variations in individual 

 species as in the cyprinodonts, and par- 

 ticularly in the viviparous ones. Fossil 

 remains of both the oviparous and vivi- 

 parous forms have been found in the 

 tertiary deposits of Aix and Bonn, 

 France, and at Frankfort, Germany. 

 This suggests that the tooth-carps are of 

 recent origin. Moreover, the many tran- 

 sitory varieties in present species in the 

 genera Haplochilus and Fundulus bear 

 out this theory. Hence it is quite probable 

 (as some ichthyologists aver) that species 

 are in process of formation today. While 

 in nature this may require many years, 

 the aquarist has, to a certain extent, 

 within a few generations, developed con- 

 stant color varieties. Thus four color 

 forms of Platypoecilus maculatus have 

 been evolved, the most aberrant being 

 that known as rubra. Even in nature this 

 genus is notable for its variable species. 

 The variability in coloration shown in a 

 single brood of young is well known, but 

 is notable in the subject of this article, 

 the so-called "blue Poecilia" of the aquar- 

 ist, which has lately been identified by 

 Dr. Carl H. Figenmann as Limia caudo- 

 fasciata Regan. 



This Limia makes a rather attractive 

 addition to a collection of exotic fishes. 

 The back or dorsal region of the female 

 is a greenish olive, the scales of the sides 

 and abdomen having a transparent qual- 

 ity, varying with the light from olive to a 

 shade cast with pink or violet under- 

 neath, the surface with a bluish sheen. 

 The scales along the sides are edged with 



iridescent light blue, some individuals 

 having a broken black lateral streak, with 

 occasional vertical bars, though this is 

 more pronounced and characteristic of 

 the male. The base of the dorsal fin is 

 light amber with a dusky spot or several 

 dashes, these, however, may be absent. 



Limia caudofasciata 



Original in Oil by the Author 



The caudal fin is yellowish with a trans- 

 parent margin. 



The colors of the male are more in- 

 tense. The dorsal and caudal fins may be 

 yellowish orange, the former with the 

 characteristic dark blotch at the base. A 

 few individuals have been favored with 

 a flush of orange over the breast and 

 abdomen, which, with the complimen- 

 tary blue of the sides, are exceptionally 

 attractive. 



For several years we have had a form 

 identical with the one described other 

 than that it is more humble in coloration. 

 It has the olive back and blue sides, but 

 lacks the glistening light blue spots and 

 the yellow fins and breast. 



The breeding habits do not differ from 

 other live-bearing poeciliids. Pregnant 

 females soon give evidence of the im- 



