Skiffia
Encyclopedia
Skiffia is a genus
of goodeid fish that contains four species
, endemic to the Mesa Central area of Mexico
.
They typically have a limited tolerance to environmental degradation, and so are susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance. The exception to this is Skiffia bilineata, which is comparatively more tolerant to eutrophication
, turbidity
and seasonal changes in environmental conditions . All four Skiffia species face some conservation threat and have suffered local extinctions in more than 50% of areas studied where they were previously known to have existed . Skiffia lermae and Skiffia bilineata are the most widely distributed of the genus, found over the states of Michoacán
, Jalisco
and Guanajuato
. Skiffia multipunctata has a restricted distribution in Michoacán and Skiffia francesae has been declared extinct in the wild by the IUCN . There is only one locality from which captive S. francesae stocks have been derived (Teuchitlán
). Captive populations of S. francesae are maintained in a variety of locations by aquarium hobbyists, research institutes and zoos. The history of this particular species is unclear, but they are believed to have descended from one stock collected by Dr. R. Miller in 1976 ; it appears that no other stocks descended from independent samples from this region.
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...
of goodeid fish that contains four 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...
, endemic to the Mesa Central area of 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...
.
They typically have a limited tolerance to environmental degradation, and so are susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance. The exception to this is Skiffia bilineata, which is comparatively more tolerant to eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
, turbidity
Turbidity
Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality....
and seasonal changes in environmental conditions . All four Skiffia species face some conservation threat and have suffered local extinctions in more than 50% of areas studied where they were previously known to have existed . Skiffia lermae and Skiffia bilineata are the most widely distributed of the genus, found over the states of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, 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...
and Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
. Skiffia multipunctata has a restricted distribution in Michoacán and Skiffia francesae has been declared extinct in the wild by the IUCN . There is only one locality from which captive S. francesae stocks have been derived (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:...
). Captive populations of S. francesae are maintained in a variety of locations by aquarium hobbyists, research institutes and zoos. The history of this particular species is unclear, but they are believed to have descended from one stock collected by Dr. R. Miller in 1976 ; it appears that no other stocks descended from independent samples from this region.
Species
There are four described species:- Twoline skiffia, Skiffia bilineata (BeanTarleton Hoffman BeanTarleton Hoffman Bean was an American ichthyologist, born at Bainbridge, Pennsylvania on 8 October 1846. He died in Albany, New York on 28 December 1916.-FAMILY AND EDUCATION :...
, 1887). - Golden skiffia, Skiffia francesae Kingston, 1978.
- Olive skiffia, Skiffia lermae Meek, 1902.
- Spotted skiffia, Skiffia multipunctata Pellegrin, 1901.