Ameca splendens
Encyclopedia
Ameca splendens, a bony fish from the monotypic
genus
Ameca
of the splitfin family (Goodeidae
), is commonly known as the Butterfly Goodeid or Butterfly Splitfin. It was formerly found throughout the Ameca River
drainage
in Mexico
; the type locality is Rio Teuchitlán in the vicinity of Teuchitlán
, Jalisco
. The species was only ever found in an area about 10 miles (15 km) in diameter.
Today, the species
is rated as extinct in the wild
by the IUCN, though it is noted that this assessment is obsolete: a remnant population has been found to persist in El Rincón waterpark near the town of Ameca
. Possibly, it also exists in a feral
state in the USA; individuals apparently derived from escaped or introduced captive stock were met with in southeastern Nevada
. For some time, it was a popular fish among aquarists, but unfortunately hobbyist stocks have declined quite a lot more recently, placing its survival in jeopardy.
which like the caudal fin is washed with black. A yellow band stretches along the caudal's back margin. The body of both sexes is ochre, with silvery sides and a brownish back, which in males usually have numerous glittering metallic scales. Females and immatures having black dots on the sides and ochre fins. The fins of males intensify in color when they are excited, and depending on their mood, they can show more or less strongly a black band along the side. For the first two weeks or so after birth, the young are entirely silvery.
Males can also be told apart from females because they have the anal fin's front part split off and transformed to a blunt, flexible andropodium used for mating. As usual in live-bearers, males are the smaller sex, reaching some 3 in (7–8 cm) total length at best, with females being able to grow up to 4 in (10 cm) TL under good conditions.
is limestone
, resulting in a hard and alkaline water with a general hardness of 6-10 dGH
, while the temporary (carbonate) hardness is usually between 7 and 11 degrees. The pH
is around 8, and temperature varies little between the seasons but ranges between about 70-85°F (20-30°C) between day and night. The vegetation is largely limited to algae and Ceratophyllum
hornworts. The remnant wild population coexists with the native Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinnis) and Lerma Livebearer (Poeciliopsis infans), as well as with the Common Molly (Poecilia sphenops), Oreochromis
tilapia
s and the Bluegill
(Lepomis macrochirus) which presumably have all been introduced.
Among groups of A. splendens, a loose dominance hierarchy
will develop, in particular in confined environments. Males chase each other about, with the dominant male(s) showing the most splendid coloration. Submissive males will try to retreat from attacks, typically towards the surface, and may shake their head as a calming signal.
Like other Goodeidae
, Butterfly Splitfins mate by internal fertilization
and spawn fully developed young. The females become sexually mature at about 6 months of age and can give birth every 6 to 10 weeks according to the water temperature and the condition of the fish. Mating is preceded by a courtship, where the males present themselves to the females with their head pointing downwards – up to 45° from horizontal – and shake the forward part of their body. In that respect, they resemble the Jeweled Splitfin (Xenotoca variata); they do not have a ritualized "courtship dance" as some other splitfins, but the male will sometimes rotate to present either flank to the female. The females respond by shaking their head.
The fry when born can be up to 0.8 in (20 mm) in length, as the females feed the unborn young via trophotaenia which have a similar function as the umbilical cord
in human
s.
s. When housed with less tender species that require similar conditions, it is a great fish for any tank type; even the hardier species of Apistogramma
and similar dwarf cichlid
s make good companions, with water parameters compromising between the splitfins' and the cichlids' requirements at a point similar to most tap water
.
A. splendens thrive best in clean, well aerated water, at temperatures in the 70°Fs (20-25°C) and neutral or slightly higher pH
, with water hardness between 5 and 10 degrees dGH
composed mainly from calcium
hardness. They do not tolerate overly low pH and too soft water well, and are unsuitable for dedicated rainforest aquaria with low pH and almost-zero hardness (e.g. for most tetras or danionin
s). Butterfly goodeids are strong swimmers and social fish; they like to be dwell in groups of 3-5 males and 3-7 females in large tanks (50 gal/200 L and up) where they can grow to full size. In smaller tanks of 15 gal (60 L) and up they will stay smaller, and fewer individuals or no other fish should be kept. They do not uproot vascular plants, and although they will every now and then take a bite from tender leaves if not fed sufficient vegetable food, their overall effect on plant growth is beneficial as they keep down algae
and clean off detritus
. A. splendens will breed quite readily in the aquarium; some floating plants such as Ceratopteris
or Ceratophyllum
will provide protection for young fry.
Aggressiveness varies with population density
; at high population densities, tank decoration is highly significant in influencing behavior. It is noted that at least among the captive population, Butterfly Splitfins become more aggressive if there is much decoration in the tank. It may be that this trait has actually become genetically fixed, since no wild fish have been added to the captive stock for decades: aggressive males are liable to mate more often in tanks that have hiding places, while in the wild a harassed individual will simply swim away, and in a sparsely decorated tank less aggressive males will not find it much harder to mate than those males that relentlessly pursue females even if these hide. Thus, a fishkeeper wanting to provide A. splendens with optimal conditions will not spend much money on extensive tank decoration but rather on a large tank; a bunch of floating plants and a few smooth and nicely colored rocks are entirely sufficient as decoration and in fact closely resemble the natural habitat
of this species.
Butterfly Splitfins are if anything rather voracious, they will happily eat most sorts of commercial frozen, freeze-dried, flake or tablet fish food
. They gladly take live prey up to the size of week-old guppy fry, but really need a healthy dose of plant material, ideally green algae, to thrive. They are, in fact, ideal algae eater
s for tanks with small, hard-water cichlid
s. If not enough algae are available, organic
vegetables such as pieces of lettuce
, chunks of frozen chopped spinach
or a few mashed green pea
s are recommended additions to the diet. Fry do not need "baby" food such as brine shrimp
nauplia, though as in adults, plant food will increase growth and vitality.
Lighting should be strong, to encourage growth of algae; direct sunlight is ideal. In summer, they can be kept in outside tanks, basins or small ponds in temperate and warmer areas – they can tolerate overnight air temperatures of 60°F (15 °C) well enough –, but should be protected from birds, cats and other predators.
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Ameca
of the splitfin family (Goodeidae
Goodeidae
Splitfins, are a family, Goodeidae, of teleost fish endemic to Mexico and some areas of the United States. This family contains 40 species within 18 genera. The family is named after ichthyologist George Brown Goode.-Range and Geographic Distribution:...
), is commonly known as the Butterfly Goodeid or Butterfly Splitfin. It was formerly found throughout the Ameca River
Ameca River
The Río Ameca is a river of some 230 km in length in western Mexico.It rises in the Bosque de la Primavera in Jalisco, 23 km to the west of state capital Guadalajara; flows through the city of Ameca; and then forms the boundary between Jalisco and Nayarit on its way to the Pacific Ocean, where it...
drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
; the type locality is Rio Teuchitlán in the vicinity of Teuchitlán
Teuchitlán
Teuchitlán is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 285.53 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 8,361.Tour's & TravelVisit Our Official Web Site:...
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
. The species was only ever found in an area about 10 miles (15 km) in diameter.
Today, the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is rated as extinct in the wild
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only known living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.-Examples:...
by the IUCN, though it is noted that this assessment is obsolete: a remnant population has been found to persist in El Rincón waterpark near the town of Ameca
Ameca, Jalisco
Ameca is a city and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 685.73 km². The city is bisected by the Ameca River which drains to the Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta....
. Possibly, it also exists in a feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
state in the USA; individuals apparently derived from escaped or introduced captive stock were met with in southeastern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. For some time, it was a popular fish among aquarists, but unfortunately hobbyist stocks have declined quite a lot more recently, placing its survival in jeopardy.
Description
As its common name implies it is indeed quite an attractive fish. A dominant mature male specimen will have a large dorsal finDorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
which like the caudal fin is washed with black. A yellow band stretches along the caudal's back margin. The body of both sexes is ochre, with silvery sides and a brownish back, which in males usually have numerous glittering metallic scales. Females and immatures having black dots on the sides and ochre fins. The fins of males intensify in color when they are excited, and depending on their mood, they can show more or less strongly a black band along the side. For the first two weeks or so after birth, the young are entirely silvery.
Males can also be told apart from females because they have the anal fin's front part split off and transformed to a blunt, flexible andropodium used for mating. As usual in live-bearers, males are the smaller sex, reaching some 3 in (7–8 cm) total length at best, with females being able to grow up to 4 in (10 cm) TL under good conditions.
Ecology
In its former natural habitat, the bedrockBedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
is limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, resulting in a hard and alkaline water with a general hardness of 6-10 dGH
DGH
Degrees of general hardness is a unit of water hardness, specifically of general hardness.General hardness is a measure of the concentration of metal divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium per volume of water...
, while the temporary (carbonate) hardness is usually between 7 and 11 degrees. The pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
is around 8, and temperature varies little between the seasons but ranges between about 70-85°F (20-30°C) between day and night. The vegetation is largely limited to algae and Ceratophyllum
Ceratophyllum
Ceratophyllum is a cosmopolitan genus of flowering plants, commonly found in ponds, marshes, and quiet streams in tropical and in temperate regions...
hornworts. The remnant wild population coexists with the native Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinnis) and Lerma Livebearer (Poeciliopsis infans), as well as with the Common Molly (Poecilia sphenops), Oreochromis
Oreochromis
Oreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...
tilapia
Tilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
s and the Bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
(Lepomis macrochirus) which presumably have all been introduced.
Among groups of A. splendens, a loose dominance hierarchy
Dominance hierarchy
A dominance hierarchy is the organization of individuals in a group that occurs when competition for resources leads to aggression...
will develop, in particular in confined environments. Males chase each other about, with the dominant male(s) showing the most splendid coloration. Submissive males will try to retreat from attacks, typically towards the surface, and may shake their head as a calming signal.
Like other Goodeidae
Goodeidae
Splitfins, are a family, Goodeidae, of teleost fish endemic to Mexico and some areas of the United States. This family contains 40 species within 18 genera. The family is named after ichthyologist George Brown Goode.-Range and Geographic Distribution:...
, Butterfly Splitfins mate by internal fertilization
Internal fertilization
In mammals, internal fertilization is done through copulation, which involves the insertion of the penis into the vagina. Some other higher vertebrate animals reproduce internally, but their fertilization is cloacal.The union of spermatozoa of the parent organism. At some point, the growing egg or...
and spawn fully developed young. The females become sexually mature at about 6 months of age and can give birth every 6 to 10 weeks according to the water temperature and the condition of the fish. Mating is preceded by a courtship, where the males present themselves to the females with their head pointing downwards – up to 45° from horizontal – and shake the forward part of their body. In that respect, they resemble the Jeweled Splitfin (Xenotoca variata); they do not have a ritualized "courtship dance" as some other splitfins, but the male will sometimes rotate to present either flank to the female. The females respond by shaking their head.
The fry when born can be up to 0.8 in (20 mm) in length, as the females feed the unborn young via trophotaenia which have a similar function as the umbilical cord
Umbilical cord
In placental mammals, the umbilical cord is the connecting cord from the developing embryo or fetus to the placenta...
in human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s.
As a pet
The Butterfly Goodeid has a somewhat exaggerated reputation of being a fin nipper, but being a large and robust fish, it will certainly bully small and delicate species like guppies or small tetraTetra
thumb|right|250px|Pristella tetra — [[Pristella maxillaris]].thumb|right|250px|Golden Pristella tetra, a [[morph |morph]] of [[Pristella maxillaris]].thumb|right|250px|[[Silvertip tetra]] — Hasemania nana....
s. When housed with less tender species that require similar conditions, it is a great fish for any tank type; even the hardier species of Apistogramma
Apistogramma
Apistogramma is a genus of approximately a hundred species of fish from the family Cichlidae found in tropical areas of the Amazon basin and Venezuela. Apistogramma literally means "irregular lateral line" referring to a common trait of the species under this taxon...
and similar dwarf cichlid
Dwarf cichlid
Dwarf cichlid is a term used by fishkeeping hobbyists to describe an arbitrary assemblage of small-sized fish from the family Cichlidae. Although the grouping is widely used in the aquarium industry and hobby, the grouping has no taxonomic or ecological basis and is poorly defined...
s make good companions, with water parameters compromising between the splitfins' and the cichlids' requirements at a point similar to most tap water
Tap water
Tap water is a principal component of "indoor plumbing", which became available in urban areas of the developed world during the last quarter of the 19th century, and common during the mid-20th century...
.
A. splendens thrive best in clean, well aerated water, at temperatures in the 70°Fs (20-25°C) and neutral or slightly higher pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, with water hardness between 5 and 10 degrees dGH
DGH
Degrees of general hardness is a unit of water hardness, specifically of general hardness.General hardness is a measure of the concentration of metal divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium per volume of water...
composed mainly from calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
hardness. They do not tolerate overly low pH and too soft water well, and are unsuitable for dedicated rainforest aquaria with low pH and almost-zero hardness (e.g. for most tetras or danionin
Danionin
The danionins are a group of small minnow-type fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. Members of this group are mostly in the genera Danio and Devario. They are native to the fresh waters of southeast Asia. Many species are brightly coloured and are available as aquarium fish worldwide...
s). Butterfly goodeids are strong swimmers and social fish; they like to be dwell in groups of 3-5 males and 3-7 females in large tanks (50 gal/200 L and up) where they can grow to full size. In smaller tanks of 15 gal (60 L) and up they will stay smaller, and fewer individuals or no other fish should be kept. They do not uproot vascular plants, and although they will every now and then take a bite from tender leaves if not fed sufficient vegetable food, their overall effect on plant growth is beneficial as they keep down algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
and clean off detritus
Detritus
Detritus is a biological term used to describe dead or waste organic material.Detritus may also refer to:* Detritus , a geological term used to describe the particles of rock produced by weathering...
. A. splendens will breed quite readily in the aquarium; some floating plants such as Ceratopteris
Ceratopteris
Ceratopteris is the only genus among homosporous ferns that is exclusively aquatic. It is pan-tropical.-Description:Erect aquatic or subaquatic ferns of moderate size...
or Ceratophyllum
Ceratophyllum
Ceratophyllum is a cosmopolitan genus of flowering plants, commonly found in ponds, marshes, and quiet streams in tropical and in temperate regions...
will provide protection for young fry.
Aggressiveness varies with population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
; at high population densities, tank decoration is highly significant in influencing behavior. It is noted that at least among the captive population, Butterfly Splitfins become more aggressive if there is much decoration in the tank. It may be that this trait has actually become genetically fixed, since no wild fish have been added to the captive stock for decades: aggressive males are liable to mate more often in tanks that have hiding places, while in the wild a harassed individual will simply swim away, and in a sparsely decorated tank less aggressive males will not find it much harder to mate than those males that relentlessly pursue females even if these hide. Thus, a fishkeeper wanting to provide A. splendens with optimal conditions will not spend much money on extensive tank decoration but rather on a large tank; a bunch of floating plants and a few smooth and nicely colored rocks are entirely sufficient as decoration and in fact closely resemble the natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
of this species.
Butterfly Splitfins are if anything rather voracious, they will happily eat most sorts of commercial frozen, freeze-dried, flake or tablet fish food
Fish food
Aquarium fish feed is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish...
. They gladly take live prey up to the size of week-old guppy fry, but really need a healthy dose of plant material, ideally green algae, to thrive. They are, in fact, ideal algae eater
Algae eater
Algae eater is a common name for many bottom-dwelling fish that feed on algae. Algae eaters are important for the fishkeeping hobby and many are commonly kept by hobbyists.Some of the common and most popular freshwater algae eaters include:...
s for tanks with small, hard-water cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
s. If not enough algae are available, organic
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
vegetables such as pieces of lettuce
Lettuce
Lettuce is a temperate annual or biennial plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable. It is eaten either raw, notably in salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, tacos, and many other dishes, or cooked, as in Chinese cuisine in which the stem becomes just as important...
, chunks of frozen chopped spinach
Spinach
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
or a few mashed green pea
Pea
A pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the pod fruit Pisum sativum. Each pod contains several peas. Peapods are botanically a fruit, since they contain seeds developed from the ovary of a flower. However, peas are considered to be a vegetable in cooking...
s are recommended additions to the diet. Fry do not need "baby" food such as brine shrimp
Brine shrimp
Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...
nauplia, though as in adults, plant food will increase growth and vitality.
Lighting should be strong, to encourage growth of algae; direct sunlight is ideal. In summer, they can be kept in outside tanks, basins or small ponds in temperate and warmer areas – they can tolerate overnight air temperatures of 60°F (15 °C) well enough –, but should be protected from birds, cats and other predators.
