Quintana atrizona

The Glaskärpfling (Quintana atrizona ) is a freshwater fish of the subfamily of the live-bearing tooth carp. He is the only representative of the so monotypic genus Quintana.

Features

It is small permanent toothcarps. Females are up to 4 cm in size, males only 2-2.5 cm. The pointed head is dark in the upper half. The body color is grayish yellow, the abdominal region shines silvery. The body is laterally compressed and acts translucent. On the sides of the body are 4-8 black stripes and a weak network drawing. The front of the dorsal fin is black margins. Especially with dominant animals may be tinted orange fin. The other fins are slightly yellowish. Females are a bit paler than their male counterparts. The anal fin of the male is transformed to Gonopodium and compared with the other viviparous toothcarps very long.

Occurrence and life

The mosquito fish lives endemic in western Cuba. The fish are - typical of the subfamily - viviparous, the females give birth approximately every 28 days for 10 to 25 young fish to the world, which are 3-4 mm long.

System

The most closely related genus is Carlhubbsia, from the current two species have been described, which occur in Mexico and Guatemala. Quintana is allocated within the live-bearing tooth carp the tribe Poeciliini. The species is very original.