Limia islai, also known as the tiger limia, is a species of fish within the family Poeciliidae.[2] This species is one of several Limia that are endemic to Lake Miragoâne, Haiti.[3]

Limia islai
A female tiger limia (L. islai)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Limia
Species:
L. islai
Binomial name
Limia islai
Rodriguez-Silva & Weaver, 2020

Description

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Limia islai can be distinguished by almost all other Limia species by the presence of black vertical stripes across the fishes body.[4] The only other Limia species to possess a similar striping is Limia nigrofasciata.[4] Stripes are present on both male and female members of L. islai.[4] The number of stripes on an individual fish can vary between 4 and 12.[4] Limia islai have slender bodies which are olive green in colour and fish possess yellow pigment in their snout and fins.[5]

Distribution and habitat

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Limia islai is endemic to Haiti, where the species is restricted to the Tiburon Peninsula of Southwest Haiti.[6] This species has only been recorded in the coastal Lake Miragoâne.[6] The lake is freshwater and reaches a maximum depth of 45 meters.[6] The habitat consists of aquatic vegetation and a muddy substrate.[6]

Reproduction

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Unlike the similarly striped L. nigrofasciatata which mates via courtship, Limia islai will sneak up on their females in order to thrust their gonopodium into them and mate.[3] Limia islai is a livebearer, which reproduces via internal fertilization and gives birth to live young. Mated females will release between 5 and 20 fry per pregnancy.[7]

Etymology

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The word Limia is derived from the Latin word "limus", which means mud. This refers to a Limias feeding habit of searching through mud. The word Islai however is reference to the first person to introduce the species in the aquarium hobby, Dominic Isla.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Lyons, T.J.; Rodríguez-Silva, R. (2021). "Limia islai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T177038422A177038441. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T177038422A177038441.en. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  2. ^ Bailly, Nicolas (2021-03-23). "Limia islai Rodriguez-Silva & Weaver, 2020". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  3. ^ a b Rodríguez-Silva, Weaver, Rodet, Pablo (2020-02-25). "A new livebearing fish of the genus Limia (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) from Lake Miragoane, Haiti". Researchgate.net. Retrieved 2022-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Rodríguez-Silva, Josaphat, Torres-Pineda, Schlupp, Rodet, James, Patricia, Ingo (2021-01-17). "Annotated list of livebearing fishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliinae) from Lake Miragoane in Southwestern Haiti, Hispaniola". Researchgate.net. Retrieved 2022-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Tobler, Courtney (2020-04-15). "Tiger Limia of Lake Miragoane Formally Described". Amazonas Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  6. ^ a b c d "Tiger Limia". www.iucnredlist.org. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  7. ^ a b Oliver, Steven (2020-11-27). "Limia Islai". British Livebearer Society. Retrieved 2022-08-18.