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Killifishes and Live-Bearers: Cyprinodontiformes

Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Conservation Status, Largescale Foureyes (anableps Anableps): Species AccountsGEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, KILLIFISHES AND LIVE-BEARERS AND PEOP



LARGESCALE FOUREYES (Anableps anableps): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
GREEN SWORDTAIL (Xiphophorus hellerii): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
BLACKFIN PEARL KILLIFISH (Austrolebias nigripinnis): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Killifishes live all over the world. Live-bearers live in North, Central, and South America.

Killifishes and live-bearers live in heavily planted streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, desert springs, salt marshes, estuaries (EHS-chew-air-eez) or areas where a river meets the sea, and coastal waters. Some live in temporary bodies of water such as puddles and ditches.



Killifishes and live-bearers eat fish, plants, invertebrates (in-VER-teh-brehts) or animals without a backbone, animal plankton, waste material, and algae. Plankton are microscopic plants and, in this case, animals drifting in water. Algae (AL-jee) are plantlike growths that live in water and have no true roots, stems, or leaves. Some species of live-bearers eat members of their own species.

Some killifishes and live-bearers are eaten. Others are sold as bait. They all help people by eating mosquitos. Aquarium hobbyists keep many species of killifishes and live-bearers. These fishes also are used in medical research.

PRETTY AND PRACTICAL

The beauty of many killifishes and live-bearers has led to their being featured on the postage stamps of several countries, which aids in stimulating an interest in conservation efforts.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceFish and Other Cold-Blooded Vertebrates