>On Wed, 18 Dec 1996, Harro Hieronimus wrote:
>> Thank you, Peter, for this message. I forwarded this message to the
>> livebearer mailing list which is involved in this matter.
>Good deal, thanks a bunch.
>> Gambusia
>> longispinis is a livebearer which is endemic to the Cuatro Cienegas
>> basin and already threatened.
>Actually, there are three livebearers, you also have Gambusia marshi
>which is a pretty yellowish fish with purple hues in sunlight and a
>prominant black midlateral band, they are pretty nasty to any other fish
>too. The other is Xiphophorus gordoni which is a platy. Overall it is
>a pretty grey looking fish. I've never seen longispinis, ever when I was
>there for a week, they are pretty secretive. I do presently keep the
>other two species from aquarium stock I aquired at the NYPENN council
>meeting in Erie PA where the RSG had a get together at.
I have had X. gordoni already and think it isn't endemic to the Cuatro
Cienegas basin. Indead, as far as known it is only known from the type
locality (Laguna Santa Tecla) and I hadn't heard before that it would occur
also in the Cuatro Cienegas basin. As president of the German Livebearer
Association, editor of their journal and book author on livebearers I have
many informations on livebearers reveived, however, that one was new.
Maybe these X. gordoni have been introduced there.
Of course also G. marshi occurs in the Cuatro Cienegas basin, but also outside.
It's not endemic there.
I have not been in Cuatro Cienegas as far as now but some of my friends. Indeed
it is difficult to find the G. longispinis. They seem to live only in the most shallow
parts of the laguna. There they have been found. I have seen them already several
times (but not kept them, I'm no specialist in Gambusia), they are grey and just for
pure enthusiasts. Maybe G. marshi invaded the basin lateron and the shallow waters
are the only area where G. longispinis can still exist. Thus it is strongly endangered.
Don't hezitate to ask for more informations if you need them.
Harro