44. Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821) ―Sailfin Molly― Exotic

Taxonomy. Original description: Mollienesia tipinna Lesueur, 1821:3, pl. 3 [ from freshwater ponds in the vicinity of New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. Lectotype: MNHN B-0929 ]. Synonyms: Poecilia lineolata Girard, 1858; Limia matamorensis Girard, 1859; Poecilia multilineata Lesueur, 1821; Limia poeciloides Girard, 1858 .

Status in the Arabian Peninsula. Recorded from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman by Al-Kahem-Al-Balawi et al. (2008), Freyhof et al. (2020), Al Jufaili & Jawad, (2020), and Esmaeili et al. (2022).

General distribution. North America: southeastern U.S.A. south to Tuxpan (Veracruz, Mexico); introduced widely elsewhere. Habitat: freshwater, brackish.

Distribution in the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia: Al-Ahsa Oasis as well as the adjacent Al-Asfar Lake, Wadi Hanifah in province, Al-Kharj and Layla Lake south of Riyadh, Al-Qatif Oasis and Anik drainage in eastern province. Bahrain: (Adhair Park). Oman: Al Bahayes and Al-Amarat (Al Amirat), Muscat Governorate.

Economic importance. Valuable for the aquarium trade.

Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).