Fish
Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei · also called endlers livebearer
Flashing a vivid mix of orange, blue, and green, a male Endler’s livebearer darts through the water, a fish now far more abundant in home aquariums worldwide than in its tiny natural range of just a couple of Venezuelan coastal lagoons.
Overview
Endler’s livebearer, Poecilia wingei, is an Endangered fish found naturally only in a couple of small coastal lagoons in Venezuela. Its vividly coloured males, close kinship with the common guppy, and dramatic gap between wild rarity and captive abundance make it one of the more conservation-notable small fish in the aquarium hobby.
A wild population smaller than most aquarium shops stock
While millions of Endler’s livebearers are bred and kept in aquariums around the world, the species’ entire natural population remains confined to a couple of small Venezuelan lagoons, a stark contrast between captive abundance and genuine wild rarity.
Status
Endangered, with an extremely limited wild population confined to a couple of small lagoons in Venezuela, threatened by habitat degradation and hybridisation with introduced guppies.
Endler's Livebearer: common questions
How small is Endler's livebearer's natural range?
It is found naturally only in a couple of small coastal lagoons in Venezuela, one of the smallest natural ranges of any popular aquarium fish, making its wild population especially vulnerable.
Is Endler's livebearer related to the guppy?
Yes, it is a close relative of the common guppy, closely related enough that the two species can interbreed, which has made preserving genetically pure wild Endler's livebearer populations more difficult.
Why is Endler's livebearer endangered if it is so common in aquariums?
Its wild population remains confined to a tiny natural range in Venezuela and faces threats from habitat degradation and hybridisation with introduced guppies, even though captive-bred individuals are abundant worldwide in the aquarium trade.
Does Endler's livebearer lay eggs?
No, it is a livebearer, meaning it gives birth to fully formed young rather than laying eggs.