Poecilia sphenops

Poecilia sphenops is a species of fish, of the genus Poecilia, known under the common name molly; to distinguish it from its congeners, it is sometimes called short-finned molly or common molly. They inhabit fresh water streams and coastal brackish and marine waters of Mexico. The wild-type fish are a dull silvery color, often sprinkled black all over. The common molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. The male black mollies generally tend to be mildly aggressive.

Mollies rank as one of the most popular feeder fish due to high growth rate, birth size, reproduction, and brood number.

Biology

Contrary to popular belief, this species of fish is actually a freshwater species, spending little time in brackish water before swimming back to their freshwater biotope. However, fish of the same species have been found in coastal sea waters, brackish swamps and freshwater streams, living and breeding. Mollies appear to be a hardy and highly adaptable species (this has been diluted over years of interbreeding in tank-bred specimens).