# Limia

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For other uses, see [Limia (disambiguation)](/source/Limia_(disambiguation)).

***Limia*** is a [genus](/source/Genus_(biology)) of [livebearing](/source/Ovoviviparity) fishes belonging to the [Cyprinodontiform](/source/Cyprinodontiform) family [Poeciliidae](/source/Poeciliidae). It comprises 22 [described species](/source/Described_species) found in fresh, [brackish](/source/Brackish_water), saltwater, and [hypersaline](/source/Hypersaline) habitats of the [Greater Antilles](/source/Greater_Antilles) islands in the [Caribbean Sea](/source/Caribbean_Sea). A vast majority are [endemic](/source/Endemic) to [Hispaniola](/source/Hispaniola). There has been a long-running debate on whether *Limia* should be considered a [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) of *[Poecilia](/source/Poecilia)* rather than a full genus. Most *Limia* species are [detrivores](/source/Detrivore) and [herbivores](/source/Herbivore). Due to their small size and coloring, they are sometimes kept in home [aquaria](/source/Aquarium).

## Taxonomy

The [genus](/source/Genus_(biology)) *Limia* belongs to [Poecilidae](/source/Poecilidae), the most abundant and species-rich [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) of freshwater fish on the [Greater Antilles](/source/Greater_Antilles).[2] The generic name *Limia*, derived from Latin, refers to the muddy [habitat](/source/Habitat) of the [type species](/source/Type_species), *[L. vittata](/source/Limia_vittata)*. The genus was established in 1854 by [Poey](/source/Felipe_Poey). [Rosen](/source/Donn_Eric_Rosen) and [Bailey](/source/Reeve_Maclaren_Bailey) made it a [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) of the genus *[Poecilia](/source/Poecilia)* in their major reclassification of the poeciliid genera in 1963. Rivas, among others, continued to recognize *Limia* as a distinct genus and resurrected it in 1978, describing eight new species in 1980.[3]

Other Poecilidae genera found on the Antilles include *Poecilia*, *[Gambusia](/source/Gambusia)*, and the [endemic](/source/Endemic) genera *[Girardinus](/source/Girardinus)* and *[Quintana](/source/Barred_topminnow)*. *Limia*, however, is represented on the islands by more species than any other poeciliid genus, with 22 currently known from [Cuba](/source/Cuba), [Grand Cayman](/source/Grand_Cayman), [Hispaniola](/source/Hispaniola), and [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica).[2] Cuba, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica each have one endemic species: *L. vittata*, *[L. caymanensis](/source/Limia_caymanensis)*, and *[L. melanogaster](/source/Limia_melanogaster)*, respectively. The rest are found exclusively on Hispaniola, making the island a center of endemism for the genus. Their distribution on Hispaniola indicates an [evolutionary radiation](/source/Evolutionary_radiation) from [Lake Miragoâne](/source/Lake_Mirago%C3%A2ne) on the [Tiburon Peninsula](/source/Tiburon_Peninsula) in particular. Nine species endemic to the lake have been described: *[L. fuscomaculata](/source/Limia_fuscomaculata)*, *[L. garnieri](/source/Limia_garnieri)*, *[L. grossidens](/source/Limia_grossidens)*, *[L. immaculata](/source/Limia_immaculata)*, *[L. islai](/source/Limia_islai)*, *[L. mandibularis](/source/Limia_mandibularis)*, *[L. miragoanensis](/source/Limia_miragoanensis)*, *[L. nigrofasciata](/source/Limia_nigrofasciata)*, and *[L. ornata](/source/Limia_ornata)*.[2][4]

### Evolution and phylogeny

Most recent studies about the origin of limias conclude that the genus [colonized](/source/Colonisation_(biology)) the Antilles islands through [oceanic dispersal](/source/Oceanic_dispersal) or [vicariance](/source/Vicariance).[2] Weaver et al. posit that [GAARlandia](/source/GAARlandia), a hypothesized [land bridge](/source/Land_bridge) connecting the area of the modern islands to the South American mainland during the [Eocene–Oligocene transition](/source/Eocene%E2%80%93Oligocene_transition), might have enabled the fish to reach the Antilles through a combination of dispersal, vicariance, and [island hopping](/source/Oceanic_dispersal). Weaver et al. believe that *Limia* ancestors are unlikely to have arrived exclusively over land, however, because *Limia* and all other native Antillean species are tolerant of saltwater; if a land bridge had been sufficient, intolerant species would have also colonized the islands.[5]

*Limia* forms a [clade](/source/Clade) with *[Pamphorichthys](/source/Pamphorichthys)*, *[Mollienesia](/source/Mollienesia)*, *[Micropoecilia](/source/Micropoecilia)*, and *Poecilia*.[4] Some authorities advocate for all of these taxa to be considered separate genera. In contrast, others maintain that some or all of them should be treated as subgenera of the genus *Poecilia*. The [sister clade](/source/Sister_clade) to *Limia* is the one formed by the Hispaniolan *Poecilia* species *[P. elegans](/source/Poecilia_elegans)*, *[P. dominicensis](/source/Poecilia_dominicensis)*, and *[P. hispaniolana](/source/Poecilia_hispaniolana)*; all three have been found to be more closely related to *Limia* than to other *Poecilia* species, adding to the uncertainty in the taxonomic designations of *Poecilia*. *Limia* and the Hispaniolan *Poecilia* species [diverged](/source/Speciation) from *Pamphorichthys* during the Eocene–Oligocene transition.[5]

The [first to split off](/source/Basal_species) from the other *Limia* species, near the [Oligocene–Miocene boundary](/source/Oligocene%E2%80%93Miocene_boundary), was *L. melanogaster*,[5][4] which went on to colonize Jamaica.[4] This was followed by the colonization of the combined Cuba-Hispaniola landmass. When the [Windward Passage](/source/Windward_Passage) divided the landmass into the modern islands of Cuba and Hispaniola, the ancestors of *L. vittata* and *L. caymanensis* split from the Hispaniolan species.[5]

### Species

Based on the number and shape of [teeth](/source/Fish_teeth) and [preopercular](/source/Operculum_(fish)) pores, Rivas separated the *Limia* species into two subgenera: *Limia* and *Odontolimia*. All seven *Odontolimia* species are endemic to Lake Miragoâne.[6] One species, *Pseudolimia heterandria* from Venezuela, was placed in the genus *Limia* when it was described in 1913, but was moved to its own genus, *[Pseudolimia](/source/Pseudolimia)*, in 2002.[7]

#### *Odontolimia*

- *[Limia fuscomaculata](/source/Limia_fuscomaculata)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (blotched limia)
- *[Limia garnieri](/source/Limia_garnieri)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (Garnier's limia)
- *[Limia grossidens](/source/Limia_grossidens)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (largetooth limia)
- *[Limia immaculata](/source/Limia_immaculata)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (plain limia)
- *[Limia mandibularis](/source/Limia_mandibularis)* Rodriguez-Silva, Torres-Pineda & Josaphat, 2020 (jawed limia)
- *[Limia miragoanensis](/source/Limia_miragoanensis)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (Miragoane limia)
- *[Limia ornata](/source/Limia_ornata)* [Regan](/source/Charles_Tate_Regan), 1913 (ornate limia)

#### *Limia*

- *[Limia caymanensis](/source/Limia_caymanensis)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas) & [W. L. Fink](/source/William_Lee_Fink), 1970 (Grand Cayman limia)
- *[Limia dominicensis](/source/Limia_dominicensis)* ([Valenciennes](/source/Achille_Valenciennes), 1846) (Tiburon Peninsula limia)
- *[Limia islai](/source/Limia_islai)*, Rodriguez-Silva & Weaver, 2020 (tiger limia)[8]
- *[Limia melanogaster](/source/Limia_melanogaster)* ([Günther](/source/Albert_G%C3%BCnther), 1866) (blackbelly limia)
- *[Limia melanonotata](/source/Limia_melanonotata)* [Nichols](/source/John_Treadwell_Nichols) & [G. S. Myers](/source/George_S._Myers), 1923 (blackbanded limia)
- *[Limia nigrofasciata](/source/Limia_nigrofasciata)* [Regan](/source/Charles_Tate_Regan), 1913 (black-barred limia)
- *[Limia pauciradiata](/source/Limia_pauciradiata)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (few-rayed limia)
- *[Limia perugiae](/source/Limia_perugiae)* ([Evermann](/source/Barton_Warren_Evermann) & [H. W. Clark](/source/Howard_Walton_Clark), 1906) (Perugia's limia)
- *[Limia rivasi](/source/Limia_rivasi)* [L. R. Franz](/source/L._Richard_Franz_Jr.) & [G. H. Burgess](/source/George_H._Burgess), 1983 (Rivas's limia)
- *[Limia sulphurophila](/source/Limia_sulphurophila)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (sulfur limia)
- *[Limia tridens](/source/Limia_tridens)* ([Hilgendorf](/source/Franz_Martin_Hilgendorf), 1889)[9]
- *[Limia versicolor](/source/Limia_versicolor)* ([Günther](/source/Albert_G%C3%BCnther), 1866) (varicolored limia)
- *[Limia vittata](/source/Limia_vittata)* ([Guichenot](/source/Alphone_Guichenot), 1853) (Cuban limia)
- *[Limia yaguajali](/source/Limia_yaguajali)* [Rivas](/source/Luis_Ren%C3%A9_Rivas), 1980 (Yaguajal limia)[10]
- *[Limia zonata](/source/Limia_zonata)* ([Nichols](/source/John_Treadwell_Nichols), 1915) (striped limia)

## Ecology

Most *Limia* species inhabit inland waters[2] such as rivers, springs, and lakes. Some are confined to relatively cool mountain streams.[11] While most are found in freshwater habitats, some species inhabit [karst](/source/Karst) environments high in dissolved inorganic salts or in saline lakes. A few are even found in [hypersaline](/source/Hypersaline) coastal [lagoons](/source/Lagoon).[2][4]

Most *Limia* species prefer to feed on [detritus](/source/Detritus) and [algae](/source/Algae), with some Hispaniolan species, such as *L. nigrofasciata*, showing a [specialization](/source/Specialist_species) in [detrivory](/source/Detrivory). A trend towards a [limnivore](/source/Limnivore) diet has also been recorded in the genus. Widespread species such as *L. perugiae*, *L. versicolor*, and *L. zonata* have been found to have a more [generalized](/source/Generalist_species) diet, which (especially in the [wet season](/source/Wet_season)) includes [aquatic invertebrates](/source/Aquatic_invertebrate).[12]

## Traits

Limias are small fish, ranging from 1 in (25 mm) to 3 in (76 mm). Many limias have glimmering [scales](/source/Fish_scales) and the color of the sides of the body often contrasts the color of the fins. Hispaniolan limias tend to have color in their dorsal fin. Those native to [Haiti](/source/Haiti) (western Hispaniola) often have stripes.[3]

Like many poeciliid fish, limias are [livebearers](/source/Livebearers).[2] Three species exhibit elaborate premating behavior, with males performing [courtship display](/source/Courtship_display) for females: *L. melanogaster*, *L. nigrofasciata*, and *L. perugiae*. The courtship display evolved in the genus on at least two, and possibly three, separate occasions. Traits such as black edges of the [caudal fin](/source/Caudal_fin) and black undersides of the body are [phylogenetically](/source/Phylogenetically) correlated with courtship display and probably reflect [female choice](/source/Female_choice). The other mating strategy, available to the courting species as well, is the gonopodial thrusting (also called opportunistic mating, forced copulation, or sneak-and-chase), which is ancestral in poeciliids and involves the males attempting to mate without female cooperation. The males' vertical bars and yellow coloration in the caudal fin appear to have evolved before courtship.[13]

## Fishkeeping

Limias' small size makes them suitable for keeping in home [aquaria](/source/Aquarium). Most species can be maintained in a 10 US gal (38 L) aquarium.[3] Limias, particularly *L. melanogaster* and *L. nigrofasciata*, were more common in the [fishkeeping](/source/Fishkeeping) hobby until the advent of the [fancy](/source/Animal_fancy) varieties of [guppies](/source/Guppies), mollies, [platies](/source/Platies), and [swordtails](/source/Swordtail).[14]

## References

1. Rodriguez-Silva, Rodet; Torres-Pineda, Patricia; Josaphat, James (2020). ["Limia mandibularis, a new livebearing fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) from Lake Miragoane, Haiti"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341244507). *Zootaxa*. **4768** (3): 395–404. [doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4768.3.6](https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4768.3.6). [PMID 33055650](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33055650)

1. Coletti, Ted (November 2007). ["Livebearers Unlimited: The Caribbean Jewels"](https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/freshwater/the-caribbean-jewels). *[Tropical Fish Hobbyist](/source/Tropical_Fish_Hobbyist)*. [TFH Publications](/source/TFH_Publications)

1. Spikes, Montrai; Rodríguez-Silva, Rodet; Bennett, Kerri-Ann; Bräger, Stefan; Josaphat, James; Torres-Pineda, Patricia; Ernst, Anja; Havenstein, Katja; Schlupp, Ingo; Tiedemann, Ralph (2021). "A phylogeny of the genus Limia (Teleostei: Poeciliidae) suggests a single-lake radiation nested in a Caribbean-wide allopatric speciation scenario". *BMC Research Notes*. **14** (425): 425. [doi:10.1186/s13104-021-05843-x](https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-021-05843-x). [PMC 8613956](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8613956). [PMID 34823576](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34823576)

1. Weaver, Pablo; Cruz, Alexander; Johnson, Steven Euston; Dupin, Julia; Weaver, Kathleen (June 2016). ["Colonizing the Caribbean: Biogeography and evolution of livebearing fishes of the genus Limia (Poeciliidae)"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304536347). *Journal of Biogeography*. **43** (9): 1808–1819. [Bibcode:2016JBiog..43.1808W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016JBiog..43.1808W). [doi:10.1111/jbi.12798](https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12798). [S2CID 89184942](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:89184942). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230410114724/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304536347_Colonizing_the_Caribbean_Biogeography_and_evolution_of_livebearing_fishes_of_the_genus_Limia_Poeciliidae) 10 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 April 2023.

1. Rivas, Luis R. (1980). ["Eight new species of poeciliid fishes of the genus Limia from Hispaniola"](https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/301290799.pdf). *Northeast Gulf Science*. **4** (1): 29–31. Retrieved 4 August 2024.

1. Poeser, Fred N. (2002). ["Pseudolimia n. gen., a new monotypic genus for Limia heterandria Regan, 1913 (Teleostei:Poeciliidae)"](https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/504959/BEAU2002052006001.pdf). *Beaufortia*. **52** (6): 53–56. Retrieved 15 September 2024.

1. ["Tiger Limia"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/177038422/177038441). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List_of_Threatened_Species)*. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2022-08-18.

1. Lyons, T.J. & Rodríguez-Silva, R. (2021). "*Limia tridens*". Vol. 2021. [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T177038495A177038510.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T177038495A177038510.en). Retrieved 18 November 2021.

1. Rodríguez-Silva, R.; Rodriguez, C.; Schlupp, I.; Lyons, T.J. (2021). "*Limia yaguajali*". Vol. 2021. [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T125986113A125986653.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T125986113A125986653.en). Retrieved 18 November 2021.

1. Haney, Dennis C. & Walsh, Stephen J. (December 2003). ["Influence of salinity and temperature on the physiology of Limia melanonotata (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae): A search for abiotic factors limiting insular distribution in Hispaniola"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237566674). *Caribbean Journal of Science*. **39** (3): 327. [Bibcode:2003CarJS..39..327H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003CarJS..39..327H)

1. Rodriguez-Silva, Rodet; Spikes, Montrai; Iturriaga, Manuel; Bennett, Kerri-Ann; Josaphat, James; Torres-Pineda, Patricia; Bräger, Stefan; Schlupp, Ingo (11 October 2021). "Feeding strategies and diet variation in livebearing fishes of the genus *Limia* (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in the Greater Antilles". *Ecology of Freshwater Fish*. **31** (2): 389–400. [doi:10.1111/eff.12638](https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12638). [S2CID 244612970](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:244612970)

1. Hamilton, Aaron (2001). [*Molecular Phylogenetics and the Evolution of Courtship Behavior, Body Shape, and Coloration in the Livebearing Fish Genus Limia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=FSsJIT7PJkkC). University of California, Riverside. p. vii.

1. Neal Monks. ["7 Forgotten Livebearers"](https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/freshwater/7-forgotten-livebearers-full-article). Tropical Fish Hobbyist. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230412202930/https://www.tfhmagazine.com/articles/freshwater/7-forgotten-livebearers-full-article) 2023-04-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-04-12.

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