New Record and Biology of the Molly Poecilia sphenops (Poeciliidae), Discovered in the Northern Sahara of Algeria

• Published in: Journal of ichthyology Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 602 - 609
• Main Authors: Ghazi, C., Bachir, A. Si, Idder, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-07-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allometry; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Eggs; Fecundity; Females; Fish; Fish eggs; Introduced fish; Introduced species; Isometric; Lakes; Life Sciences; Males; Morphometry; New records; Poecilia sphenops; Sex ratio; Weight; Zoology; Algeria
• ISSN: 0032-9452; 1555-6425
• DOI: 10.1134/S0032945219040039

This study reports data on the first observation and biology of the Molly
Poecilia sphenops
, an exotic fish species recently introduced into two natural and artificial aquatic hydrosystems of Northern Sahara (Algeria). A total of 56 individuals were captured during September 2017 in Lake Megarine and tested for morphometric. Females of
P. sphenops
are larger than males (mean
TL
Female
= 56 ± 6.33 mm, mean
TL
Male
= 46 ± 8 mm). The allometric type determination reveals isometric growth of the different morphometric characters considered as a function of total length in both sexes. Females weight more than males. The lenghth-weight relationship in both sexes follows an isometric evolution (
b
female
= 3.04,
b
male
= 3.44). The sex ratio is in favour of females (1.0 : 1.2), it varies significantly according to the size classes (χ
2
= 10.68,
p
= 0.03). The gonado-somatic index is larger in females (18.3 ± 9.8) than in males (3 ± 1.8). Mean absolute fecundity is 93.5 ± 63.83 eggs and varies independently of the length and total weight of
P. sphenops.
Keywords
:
exotic fish, introduction, growth, reproduction, Northern Sahara, Algeria