| Heterandria | |
|---|---|
| Adult female Dwarf Livebearer (H. formosa) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Subclass: | Neopterygii |
| Infraclass: | Teleostei |
| Superorder: | Acanthopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Suborder: | Cyprinodontoidei |
| Superfamily: | Poecilioidea |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Genus: | Heterandria Agassiz, 1853 |
| Diversity | |
| 10 species | |
Heterandria is a genus of livebearing fishes within the family Poeciliidae. Most species occur in Guatemala and its surroundings, particularly Mexico, but the Dwarf Livebearer (H. formosa) comes from the southeastern United States.
Though many Poecilidae are familiar aquarium fishes, e.g. guppies, mollies, platys and swordtails, species within Heterandria are not commonly kept as fish. Somewhat more frequently found in aquaria is H. formosa, perhaps because it is one of the smallest known fish species in the world; its diminutive males are probably the smallest fish easy to keep as a pet. Species in this genus resemble egg-laying Cyprinodontoidei such as Fundulidae (topminnows) at first glance, and are thus sometimes called "killifish" though this is technically erroneous.[1]
As of 2008, there were ten species in Heterandria. There are probably more remaining undiscovered as these fishes are rather inconspicuous. However, it is not very likely that many species remain unknown to science as this is genus is only found in a rather restricted region, and only one new species has been discovered since 1980.[1]