46. Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 ―Mexican Molly― Exotic

Taxonomy. Original description: Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846:130, Pl. 525-526, bottom [ Veracruz, Mexico; Lectotype: MNHN B-0930]. Synonyms: Poecilia s pilurus Günther, 1866 .

Status in the Arabian Peninsula. First record from Saudi Arabia, and UAE by Al-Kahem-Al-Balawi et al. (2008) and Freyhof et al. (2020), respectively.

General distribution. Both slopes of southern North America and central America: Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Introduced in Tobago, Society Islands and elsewhere. Habitat: freshwater, brackish.

Distribution in the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia: Al-Ahsa Oasis and adjacent Al Asfar Lake in eastern province, coastal wetlands in Salwa, north of Qatif and south of Jubail. UAE: Ruwayyah.

Economic importance. Valuable for the aquarium trade.

Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).