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Melanistic In Livebearers And Killifish


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#1 Guest_butch_*

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Posted 01 September 2007 - 01:47 PM

I was curious why golden killifish, eastern gambusia and sailfin molly in florida have melanistic patterns while their far away relatives don't have these patterns?

#2 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 01 September 2007 - 03:03 PM

I was curious why golden killifish, eastern gambusia and sailfin molly in florida have melanistic patterns while their far away relatives don't have these patterns?


I've seen 'em in Louisiana and coastal MS as well.

#3 Guest_butch_*

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Posted 01 September 2007 - 08:43 PM

I mean why all of three have these patterns while other species don't have them. For example, the golden killifish have it while other species such as starhead or plain topminnow don't have it? Then there's eastern gambusia and sailfin molly has it while other livebearers don't have melanistic pattern?

#4 Guest_drewish_*

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Posted 01 September 2007 - 10:48 PM

I'm sure it happens in the other species but I imagine they aren't as common.

#5 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 02 September 2007 - 12:28 AM

I mean why all of three have these patterns while other species don't have them. For example, the golden killifish have it while other species such as starhead or plain topminnow don't have it? Then there's eastern gambusia and sailfin molly has it while other livebearers don't have melanistic pattern?


Because Mother Nature is a fickle hellcat. You can love her, but never trust her.

#6 Guest_dsmith73_*

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Posted 04 September 2007 - 10:42 AM

I've seen 'em in Louisiana and coastal MS as well.


We have both melanistic Gambusia and chrysotus here in SC as well. Oddly enough, it seems as though we see more of this variation in certain parts of the year. I can't really explain that nor can I really say that it definitely holds true. Just a personal observation. We also see this only along the coast. The same species more inland never have this trait. Maybe the salt water has something to do with it?

#7 Guest_centrarchid_*

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Posted 04 September 2007 - 02:57 PM

I was curious why golden killifish, eastern gambusia and sailfin molly in florida have melanistic patterns while their far away relatives don't have these patterns?


Is the melanistic pattern heritable through some simple genetic modification or an environmental component such as disease / parasite also involved?



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