Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Poeciliidae (Poeciliids) > Poeciliinae
Etymology: Gambusia: Gambusia: From the Cuban term, Gambusino, which means "nothing", usually in the context of a joke or a farce. Fishing for gambusinos = when one catches nothing (Ref. 45335); zarskei: Named after Dr. Axel Zarske in recognition of his valuable contributions to discussions on the conservation biology and problems of endangered fishes such as G. zarskei (Ref. 84135).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 7.9 - ?. Subtropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 84135); 29°N - 28°N, 105°W - 106°W
North America: Mexico. Only known from the upper Rio Conchos system in the Sierra San Diego area, east of San Diego de Alcalá, Chihuahua, Mexico (Ref. 84135).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 2.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84135); 2.9 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Gambusia zarskei is a small sized species of the subgenus Arthrophallus (SL in males usually not exceeding 25 mm and in females 35 mm), which is distinguished from all other species of the senilis species group by the following characters: shafts of distal spines of gonopodium ray 3 much prolonged, lateral projection on elbow weekly developed, vs. well developed in G. amistadensis and G. hurtadoi or absent in G. alvarezi, G. gaigei and G. senilis. G. zarskei is also distinguished by the following unique combination of characters: relative gonopodial ray 4p serra length of gonopodium long; frequency distribution of SEL/SEW radius 1.35 – 1.65, vs. 0.95 – 1.25 in G. alvarezi, 1.55 – 1.90 in G. amistadensis, 1.00 – 1.35 in G. gaigei and 0.75 – 1.05 in G. hurtadoi; elbow on gonopodium ray 4a simple and not rounded or distally hooked, vs. usually hooked in G. alvarezi, G. gaigei, G. senilis; 8 dorsal fi n rays, vs. usually 9 in G. alvarezi and G. hurtadoi; black anal spot present vs. absent in G. senilis.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Meyer, M.K., S. Schories and M. Schartl, 2010. Description of Gambusia zarskei sp. n. - a new poeciliid fish from the upper Rio Conchos system, Chihuahua, Mexico (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae). Verteb. Zool. 60(1):11-18. (Ref. 84135)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01096 (0.00344 - 0.03497), b=3.08 (2.83 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
