Poecilia: The Amazing Livebearing Fishes of the Americas

Have you ever wondered what kind of fish can give birth to live young, tolerate different levels of salinity, and display a stunning array of colors and patterns? Meet Poecilia, a genus of freshwater fish that includes some of the most popular and easy-to-care-for aquarium fish, such as guppies, mollies, and Endler's livebearers.

Poecilia is a genus of fish in the family Poeciliidae. These fishes are also known as livebearers because they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. They are native to fresh, brackish, and saltwater in the Americas, and some species can tolerate a wide range of salinities. They are popular aquarium fish, and some of them have been used for mosquito control and scientific research.