Skiffia francesae Kingston, 1978
Golden skiffia
Skiffia francesae
photo by The Native Fish Conservancy

Family:  Goodeidae (Splitfins), subfamily: Goodeinae
Max. size:  5 cm TL (male/unsexed); 5 cm TL (female)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: Teuchitlan River, Mexico.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal soft rays: 14-15; Vertebrae: 30-35. Males with a less prominent notch in dorsal fin; no irregular black spots on sides of body; a gray cast superimposed on gold body and gray fins. Head wedged shaped; upturned lips; proportionately larger head and orbit. Tendency to fewer lateral scales, predorsal scales and vertebrae. Male with fins larger, especially dorsal and anal fins; greater prepelvic length, head and body depths; first 6 anal-fin rays small folding into fleshy dermal pocket supported by 7th ray; dorsal fin notched, first 4-5 rays separated slightly from the rest.
Biology:  An experimental fish. Pinnate diatoms (largely benthic), filamentous algae indicate that this species grazes rocks and plant surfaces along or near the bottom (Ref. 29410).
IUCN Red List Status: Extinct in the Wild (EW); Date assessed: 18 April 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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