Home · Poeciliidae · Cauca molly
Cauca molly (Poecilia caucana) — Poeciliidae

Cauca molly

Poecilia caucana
Family: Poeciliidae

The Cauca molly (Poecilia caucana) is a freshwater fish of the family Poeciliidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Colombia, Panama, Venezuela

Want the complete picture on the Cauca molly?

Get the app

Description

The Cauca molly is a small livebearing toothcarp (Poeciliidae) from fresh and brackish water of northern South America and Central America. The species grows to about 3 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a few rows of spots; males bear a yellow-edged dorsal fin. It lives in schools in slow streams, pools and estuaries and eats algae, small invertebrate life and detritus. The female gives birth to live young. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cauca molly?

The Cauca molly has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Cauca molly live?

The Cauca molly lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South America: Colombia, Panama, Venezuela

How big does the Cauca molly get?

The Cauca molly grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Cauca molly dangerous to humans?

No, the Cauca molly is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Cauca molly (Poecilia caucana) — Poeciliidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Ictiologia Universidad Católica de Oriente (CC BY 2.0)
Cauca molly (Poecilia caucana) — Poeciliidae — 3
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Cauca molly (Poecilia caucana) — Poeciliidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Ewout Knoester (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cauca molly (Poecilia caucana) — Poeciliidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Julien Renoult (CC BY 4.0)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Cauca molly?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Cauca molly is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Cauca molly sourced
Scientific name
Poecilia caucana
Family
Poeciliidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Colombia, Panama, Venezuela sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Poecilia

More from the family Poeciliidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Cauca molly?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Cauca molly is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Cauca molly? Get the app