Gambusia Episcopi 



WALTER LANNOT BRIND, F. Z. S. 



i 



The name Gambusia is derived from 

 the Spanish word "gambusio," meaning 

 an insignificant little thing, next to noth- 

 ing. Our American representative of the 

 genus, Gambusia affinis, is known to all 

 aquarists, and episcopi is but slightly 

 more attractive, which isn't saying very 

 much. In nature this fish is restricted 

 to the Canal Zone, and is found in ditches 

 along the waterway from coast to coast. 

 It was first made known to aquarists by 

 Rachow, of Hamburg, who secured speci- 

 mens in 1.911. The identity of the exam- 

 ples was established by Professor Stein- 

 dachner, of Vienna, to whom Rachow 

 forwarded specimens. I am under the 

 impression that it was Steindachner who 

 later, probably when in a more critical 

 mood, placed it in the genus Priapichthys, 

 and under this name it will be found in 

 some of the systematic works. The spe- 

 cific name comes from the Latin word 

 "Episcopus," meaning Bishop (Spanish, 

 Obispo), and its use as the specific name 

 of our subject concerns the occurrence 

 of the fish about the Spanish- American 

 town of Obispo. 



The Obispo Gambusia is somewhat like 

 G. nicaraguensis, but rather more slender. 

 The most distinctive markings appear to 

 be the six to ten vertical, narrow, dark 

 stripes, which, however, are more or less 

 evanescent, varying in intensity and dis- 

 appearing entirely when an example is 

 caught and placed in a glass vessel for 

 examination. The back is olive, similar 

 to affinis and nicaraguensis, shading to 

 silvery white below. The anal fin, in both 

 sexes, bears a characteristic blue-black 

 spot ; dorsal and caudal clear, with rows 



of small dots. It is a more graceful fish 

 than others of the genus, and in size does 

 not exceed one and three-fourths inches, 

 the male being smaller than the female. 

 Breeding in the aquarium is no more 

 difficult than with other and better known 

 viviparous fishes. Gravid females should 

 be isolated, each in a separate shallow 



Gambusia episcopi 



tank, with plenty of bushy plants among 

 which the young may find shelter and 

 protection from the appetite of the 

 mother, who will surely devour them 

 upon discovery; hence wise aquarists 

 watch the breeding tanks and remove the 

 female when she is apparently spent. In 

 such tanks be not niggardly with the 

 plants, there can scarcely be too many, 

 and the mass had well be grouped at the 

 bottom as well as floating. Anacharis, 

 Myriophyllum — most anything that can be 

 spared from other tanks — can be utilized. 

 Aquarium conditions suitable for most 

 tropical fishes will be to the liking of this 

 one. The tank should be clean, covered 

 with a sheet of glass, well planted, and so 

 situated with relation to the source of 

 light that a luxurious growth will be de- 

 veloped. The temperature should be 



