Metadata

Poecilia mexicana

Steindachner 1863

Poecilia mexicana
Redrawn by Rhian Kendall from Peters, Peters, Parzefall and Wilkens (1973)
ORDERSUB-ORDERFAMILY
CyprinodontiformesCyprinodontoideiPoeciliidae

Note

Gordon and Rosen (1962) gave an account of a poeciliid fish from the Cueva del Azufre, Tabasco, México, which had been known about since at least 1896 (R. R. Miller pers. comm.). Although exhibiting variable degrees of depigmentation and eye loss, it was their opinion that it did not differ significantly from epigean fishes in the area to merit specific distinction and was referred to Poecilia sphenops. Detailed studies of P. sphenops (Schultz and Miller 1971) have shown it to be a complex of several species, and the cave form is now known to be close to Poecilia mexicana, a widespread epigean species of the Atlantic slope of Central America. The following details refer only to the cave form.

Synonyms

Poecilia sphenops  Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1846

Mollienisia sphenops  (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1846) Regan 1913

These names have been used interchangeably by several authors. Reddell (1981:243) provides a full list and bibliography to that time.

Country

México

Types

USNM 132262 (104 young (y) to adult (a) specimens), 132263 (9 y to a), 132264 (51 y to a), 132265 (35 y to a), 132266 (79 y to a); AMNH 20394 (85 y to a, Chamber X), 20395 (159 y to a, Chamber VB), 20396 (123 y to a, between Chamber V and VI), 20397 (101 y to a, Chamber IIB), 20398 (89 y to a , Chambers II and III), 20399 (217 y to a, mouth of cave) (From Gordon and Rosen 1962).

Distribution

“Type” locality: Cueva del Azufre, Arroyo del Solpho, near Tapijulapa, Tabasco, México (17o 27’N, 92o 46’W). Langecker, Wilkens and Parzefall (1996) call this cave Cueva de las Sardinas. A third name, Cueva de Villa Luz, has been used more recently by Lavoie, Northup and Boston (1998), Palmer and Palmer (1998) and Hose and Pisarowicz (1999). Also known from Luna Azufre in the same area.

Habitat

Cueva del Azufre is about 300m long and carries a small but swift stream which is a turbid milky-blue colour, caused by either suspended Calcium sulphate (Gordon and Rosen 1962) or colloidal Sulphur (Martin Plath pers. comm.). There are a number of inlets within the cave, some of them of clear water. It contains large colonies of a Beggiatoa-like bacterium which metabolise hydrogen sulphide in the water. These bacterial colonies provide a rich food supply for the cave fishes and for many chironomid diptera (Tendipes fuvipilus) which live in the cave. This ecosystem is one of only a few confirmed cases where chemolithotrophic primary production forms the base of the food web (Kinkle and Kane 2000, Sarbu 2000), and the only one having a fish as part of its community. Details of the habitat are primarily from Langecker, Wilkens and Parzefall (1996). Similar details are provided by Lavoie, Northup and Boston (1998). This cave has the richest subterranean fauna in Mexico with 169 identified species (Palacios-Vargas et al. 2014-2015)

Systematics

This fish is currently considered as a hypogean population of the epigean species Poecilia mexicana. It shares this status with Astyanax jordani, Garra barreimiae and Indoreonectes evezardi. In each of these cases the autapomorphies associated with a subterranean life are considered as less important than the plesiomorphies shared with the, probable, epigean sister species. I do not believe that this is an enlightening state of affairs since in all of these cases the autapomorphies are more that sufficient to diagnose these taxa, allowing us to consider each as a perfectly good species, albeit one which has not yet developed reproductive isolation. I would urge systematists of the Poeciliidae to consider promoting this animal to its own species. (See also discussion under Astyanax jordani).

It seems possible that hybridisation between the epigean fishes and those in the cave is still continuing (Langecker, Wilkens and Parzefall 1996).

Conservation Status

TMP [NE]

Museum Holdings

As above plus: USNM 131176, 132121‑132124, USNM 47687, adult female. (This specimen was received by the USNM in the winter of 1896 from A. Duges. It is probably from the same site (R. R. Miller pers. comm.)) UMMZ 209328 59 specimens 11mm ‑ 53mm SL including 8 mature males. Many specimens at Zoologisches Institut und Zoologisches Museum, Universitat Hamburg, Martin‑Luther‑King‑Platz 3, D‑2000, Hamburg 13, Germany.

Manchester Museum (UK) D1293.3 male

Manchester Museum (UK) D1293.4 female

Manchester Museum (UK) D1293.5 male

Manchester Museum (UK) D1293.6 female

Manchester Museum (UK) D1293.7 male

Manchester Museum (UK) D1293.8 female

All specimens ex-University of Hamburg captive breeding population

Internet Resources

Genome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/14658

Key References

This species is the second most studied subterranean fish after Astyanax jordani and the literature is very large. Anyone working with this species, or taking a serious interest in it, will need to follow the primary literature which is published across a very wide array of scientific journals. Those people starting out in research on the cave populations of Poecilia mexicana, and those with a passing interest, will have to read and fully digest the principle reviews of its biology and habitat. These are:

Parzefall (2001) - A review of morphological and behavoural changes in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana, from Tabasco, Mexcio

Tobler (2008) - The evolutionary ecology of the cave molly (Poecilia mexicana) from the Cueva del Azufre system effects of abiotic and biotic environmental conditions

Plath and Tobler (2010) - Subterranean fishes of Mexico (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)

Tobler and Plath (2011) - Living in extreme environments

Rosales-Lagarde (2012) - Investigation of karst brackish-sulfidic springs and their role in the hydrogeology, subsurface water-rock interactions, and speleogenesis at northern Sierra de Chiapas

Rosales-Lagarde (2013) - Sulfidic karst springs and speleogenesis in the Sierra de Chiapas

Riesch, Tobler and Plath (2015) - Hydrogen sulphide-toxic habitats

Plath, Tobler and Riesch (2015) - Extremophile fishes: An introduction

Tobler, Riesch and Plath (2015) - Extremophile fishes: An integrative synthesis

Niemiller and Soares (2015) - Cave environments

Hose and Rosales-Lagarde (2017) - Sulfur-rich caves of southern Tabasco, Mexico

Tobler et al. 2018 - Extreme environments and the origins of biodiversity: Adaptation and speciation in sulphide spring fishes

Ghedotti, Davis and Echelle (2020) - Poeciliidae: Livebearers (large book chapter review)

Selected bibliography

Steindachner, F. Journal Article 1863 Beitrage zur Kentniss der Sciaenoiden Brasiliens und der Cyprinodonten Mejicos
Alvarez del Villar, J. Journal Article 1948 Descripcion de una nueva especie de Mollienisia capturada en Banos del Azufre, Tabasco (Pisces, Poeciliidae).
Gordon, M.S. and Rosen, D.E. Journal Article 1962 A cavernicolous form of the Poeciliid fish Poecilia sphenops from Tabasco, Mexico
Peters, N. and Peters, G. Journal Article 1968 Zur genetischen Interpretation morphologischer Gesetzmassigkeiten der degenerativen Evolution. Untersuchungen au Auge einer Hohlenform von Poecilia sphenops (Poeciliidae, Pisces)
Schultz, R.J. and Miller, R.R. Journal Article 1971 Species of the Poecilia sphenops complex (Pisces, Poeciliidae) in Mexico
Zeiske, E. Journal Article 1971 Ethologische Mechanismen als Voraussetzung fur einen Ubergang zum Hohlenleben. Untersuchungen an Kaspar-Huaser-Mannchen von Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1973 Modifications du comportement de Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae) consecutives a son passage a la vie cavernicole
Peters, G. Journal Article 1973 Carateres degeneratifs et constructifs chez une forme cavernicole phylogenetiquement recente de Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Peters, N., Peters, G., Parzefall, J. and Wilkens, H. Journal Article 1973 Uber degenerative und konstructive Merkmale bei einer phylogenetisch jungen Hohlenform von Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1974 Ruckbildung aggressiver verhaltensweisen bei einer Hohlenform von Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1979 Zur Genetik und biologischen Bedeutung des Aggressionsverhaltens von Poecilia sphenops (Pisces, Poeciliidae). Untersuchungen an Bastarden ober- und unterirdisch lebender Populationen
Brett, B. L. H., Turner, B. J. and Miller, R. R. Journal Article 1980 Allozymic divergences among the shortfin mollies of the Poecilia sphenops species comples
Reddell, J. R. Book 1981 A review of the cavernicole fauna of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize
Beauchamp, R.O., Bus, J.S., Popp, C.S., Boreiko, C.J. and Andjelkovich, D.A. Journal Article 1984 A critical review of the literature on hydrogen sulfide
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1989 Sexual and Aggressive Behaviour in Species Hybrids of Poecilia mexicana and Poecilia velifera (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1989 Aggressive and sexual behaviour in species hybrids of Poecilia mexicana and Poecilia velifera
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1992 Schooloing behaviour in population hybrids of Astyanax fasciatus and Poecilia mexicana (Pisces, Characidae and Poeciliidae)
Kraus, C Thesis 1992 Zur Biologie sowie zum Verhalten der phylogenetisch jungen Hohlenpopulation von Poecilia mexicana (Pisces: Poeciliidae) unter besonderer Berucksichtigung phototaktischen Verhaltens
Parzefall, J. Book Section 1993 Schooling behaviour in population hybrids of Astyanax fasciatus and Poecilia mexicana (Pisces, Characidae)
Palacios-Vargas, J.G. Book Section 1994 Mexique
Parzefall, J., Gagelmann, U. and Schartl, M. Journal Article 1997 Aggressive behaviour and optomotor response in different populations of Poecilia mexicana (Pisces:Poeciliidae)
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 1998 Female choice in cave living and epigean populations of Poecilia mexicana (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Koerner, K.E. Journal Article 1998 Maintenance of visual pigments in a cave living population of Poecilia mexicana (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Ptacek, NM and Breden, F Journal Article 1998 Phylogenetic relationships among the mollies (Poeciliidae: Poecilia: Mollienesia group) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences
Palmer, A.N. and Palmer, M.V. Journal Article 1998 Geochemistry of Cueva de Villa Luz, Mexico, an active H2S cave
Palmer, A.N and Palmer, M.V. Conference Paper 1998 Geochemistry of Cueva de Villa Luz, Mexico, an active H2S cave
Lavoie, K.H., Northup, D. and Boston, P. Journal Article 1998 Preliminary report on the biology of Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, Mexico
Hose, L.D. Journal Article 1999 Cave of the sulphur eaters
Korner, KE Thesis 1999 Zur sexuellen Selektion hohlenbender Atlantikkarpflinge (Poecilia mexicana Sreindachner, 1863)
Hose, L.D. and Pisarowicz, J.A. Journal Article 1999 Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, Mexico: Reconnaissance study of an active sulfur spring cave and ecosystem
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 19xx Zur struktur und Funktion der Schuppenfortsatze bei [males] von Poecilia sphenops
Hose, L.D., Palmer, A.N., Palmer, M.V., Northup, D.E., Boston, P.J. and Duchene, H.R. Journal Article 2000 Microbiology and geochemistry in a hydrogen-sulphide-rich karst environment
Ghedotti, M.J. Journal Article 2000 Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the poecilioid fishes (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes)
Eliot, J. Journal Article 2001 Deadly haven: Mexico’s poisonous cave
Hose, L.D. Journal Article 2001 "La Ceremonia de la Pesca" in Cueva de Villa Luz, Mexico
Hose, L.D. Journal Article 2001 Hydrochemical characteristics of a unique sulfur-rich karst system in southern Mexico
Mejia-Ortiz, L.M. and Palacios-Vargas, J.G. Journal Article 2001 Estigofauna de la Cueva de las Sardinas, Tabasci, Mexico
Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2001 A review of morphological and behavoural changes in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana, from Tabasco, Mexcio
Plath, M., Korner, K.E. and Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2001 Sex recognition and female preferences of cave mollies Poecilia mexicana during the sexual cycle
Plath, M., Korner, K.E., Schlupp, I. and Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2001 Sex recognition and female preferences of cave mollies poecilia mexicana in light and darkness
Dieterich, M and Lavoie, K Journal Article 2002 Troglomorphy in the cave fish Poecilia mexicana from Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, Mexico
Estrada, D. and Palacios-Vargas, J.G. Journal Article 2002 Biodiversity of terrestrial microarthropods from Las Sardinas Cave, Tabasco, Mexico
Plath, M., Schlupp, I. and Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2002 Sexual selection in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Lucinda, P.H.F. Book Section 2003 Family Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Plath, M., Korner, K.E., Parzefall, J. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2003 Persistence of a visually mediated mating preference in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Plath, M., Parzefall, J. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2003 The role of sexual harassment in cave and surface dwelling populations of the Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Plath, M., Wiedemann, K., Parzefall, J. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2003 Sex recognition in in surface and cave dwelling male Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Timmermann, M., Schlupp, I. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2004 Shoaling behaviour in a surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling population of a barb Garra barreimiae (Cyprinidae: Teleostei)
Arndt, M., Parzefall, J. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2004 Does sexual experience influence mate choice descisions in cave molly females (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei)?
Plath, M., Arndt, M., Parzefall, J. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2004 Size-dependent male mating behaviour in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Plath, M., Brummer, A. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2004 Sexual harassment in a live-bearing fish (Poecilia mexicana): influence of population-specific male mating behaviour
Plath, M., Parzefall, J., Korner, K.E. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2004 Sexual selection in darkness: female mating preferences in surface and cave dwelling Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Plath, M., Wiedemann, K. and Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2004 Cave molly males (Poecilia mexicana) do not recognise receptive females without body contact
Plath, M, Tobler, M and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2004 Cave fish looking for mates: A visual mating preference in surface and cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana, oeciliidae)
Spilde, M.N., Fischer, P.R., Northup, D.E., Turin, H.J. and Boston, P.J. Conference Paper 2004 Water, gases, and phylogenetic analyses from sulfur springs in Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, México
Estrada-Bárcenas, D. Thesis 2005 Biodiversidad de microartrópodeos en una cueva multienergetica en Tabasco, México
Hose, L.D. Journal Article 2005 A scientist looks at Cueva Luna Azufre
Northup, D.E., Turner, A.L., Spilde, M.N., Boston, P.J., Alvarado, A. and Hose, L.D. Journal Article 2005 Sulfur-based microbial communities from Cueva de Villa Luz, an extreme sulfide-rich cave
Plath, M., Korner, K.E., Moller, A. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2005 Imperfect signal transmission and female mate choice in surface- and cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Plath, M, Heubel, FJ, Garcia de Leon, FJ and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2005 Cave molly females (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei) like well-fed males
Plath, M, Heubel, KU and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2005 Field observations on male mating behaviour in surface and cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)
Riesch, R., Arndt, M. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2005 Non-visual localisation of a conspecific male by surface and cave-dwelling Atlantic molly females (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Tobler, M, Wiedemann, K and Plath, M Journal Article 2005 Homosexual behaviour in a cavernicolous fish, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Boston, P.J., Hose, L.D., Northup, D.E. and Spilde, M.N. Book Section 2006 The microbial communities of sulfur caves: A newly appreciated geologically driven system on Earth and potential model for Mars
Plath, M, Tobler, M, Riesch, R, Garcia de Leon, FJ and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2006 Evolutionary biology and Cueva de Villa Luz: Ichthyological research in a sulfidic cave in Tabasco
Plath, M., Seggel, U., Burmeister, H., Heubel, F.J. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2006 Choosy males from underground: male mating preferences in surface- and cave-dwellind Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana)
Riesch, R, Schlupp, I and Plath, M Journal Article 2006 Influence of male competition on male mating behaviour in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana
Riesch, R, Schlupp, I, Tobler, M, Garcia de Leon, FJ and Plath, M Journal Article 2006 Reduction of the association preference for conspecifics in cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana
Dieterich, M and Lavoie, K Journal Article 2006 Variability in troglomorphic adaptations of a mexican cavefish, Poecilia mexicana, from Tabasco, Mexico
Tobler, M., Schlupp, I., Heubel, K.U., Riesch, R., Garcia de Leon, F.J., Giere, O. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2006 Life on the edge: hydrogen sulfide and the fish communities of a Mexican cave and surrounding waters
Tobler, M, Burmeister, H, Schlupp, I and Plath, M Journal Article 2006 Reduction of a visually mediated association preference in the cave molly (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidea, Teleostei)
Plath, M., Tobler, M., Riesch, R., Garcia de Leon, F.J., Giere, O. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2007 Survival in an extreme habitat: the role of behaviour and energy limitation
Tobler, M., Schlupp, I. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2007 Predation of a cave fish (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae) by a giant water bug (Belostoma, Belostomatidae) in a Mexican sulphur cave
Plath, M., Hauswaldt, J.S., Moll, K., Tobler, M., Garcia de Leon, F.J., Schlupp, I. and Tiedemann, R. Journal Article 2007 Local adaptation and pronounced genetic differentiation in an extremophile fish, Poecilia mexicana, inhabiting a Mexican cave with toxic hydrogen sulfide
Plath, M. and Tobler, M. Book 2007 Sex recognition in surface- and cave-dwelling Atlantic molly females (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei): influence of visual and non-visual cues
Tobler, M, Schlupp, I, Garcia de Leon, FJ, Glaubrecht, M and Plath, M Journal Article 2007 Extreme habitats as refuge from parasite infections? Evidence from an extremophile fish
Engel, A.S. Journal Article 2007 Observations on the biodiversity of sulfidic karst habitats
Arendt, J. and Reznick, D. Journal Article 2007 Convergence and parallelism reconsidered: what have we learned about the genetics of adaptation?
Parzefall, J., Kraus, C., Tobler, M., and Plath, M. Journal Article 2007 Photophilic behaviour in surface- and cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae).
Plath, M., Schlupp, I., Parzefall, J. and Riesch, R. Journal Article 2007 Female choice for large body size in the cave molly Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei): influence od species- and sex-specific cues
Franssen, Courtney M.; Tobler, Michael; Riesch, Rudiger; et al. Journal Article 2008 Sperm production in an extremophile fish, the cave molly (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Plath, M and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2008 Parallel evolution leads to reduced shoaling behaviour in two cave dwelling populations of Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei)
Tobler, M, Riesch, R, Garcia de Leon, FJ, Schlupp, I and Plath, M Journal Article 2008 A new and morphologically distinct population of cavernicolous Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae: Teleostei)
Tobler, M, DeWhitt, TJ, Schlupp, I, Garcia de Leon, FJ, Herrmann, R, Feulner, PGD, Tiedemann, R and Plath, M Journal Article 2008 Toxic hydrogen sulfide and dark caves: Phenotypic and genetic divergence across two abiotic environmental gradients in Poecilia mexicana
Parzefall, J and Plath, M Journal Article 2008 Evolutionary ecology of the Mexican cavefish Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae) compared to epigean relatives
Plath, M Journal Article 2008 Male mating behaviour and costs of sexual harassment for females in cavernicolous and extremophile populations of Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana)
Plath, M., Tobler, M., Klawonn, O. and Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2008 Male mating behavior and sexual harassment in population hybrids of cave- and surface-dwelling Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)
Tobler, M. Thesis 2008 The evolutionary ecology of the cave molly (Poecilia mexicana) from the Cueva del Azufre system effects of abiotic and biotic environmental conditions
Schulz-Mirbach, T., Stransky, C., Schlickeisen, J. and Reichenbacher, B. Journal Article 2008 Differences in otolith morphologies between surface- and cave-dwelling populations of Poecilia mexicana Teleostei, Poeciliidae) reflect adaptations to life in an extreme habitat
Timmermann, M and Plath, M Journal Article 2009 Phototactic response and light sensitivity in an epigean and a hypogean population of a barb (Garra barreimiae, Cyprinidae)
Tobler, M., Riesch, R., Tobler, C.M. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2009 Compensatory behaviour in response to sulphide-induced hypoxia affects time budgerts, feeding efficiency and predation risk
Tobler, M, Riesch, R, Tobler, CM, Schulz-Mirbach, T and Plath, M Journal Article 2009 Natural and sexual selection against immigrants maintains differentiation among micro-allopatric populations
Tobler, M. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2009 Threatened fishes of the world: Poecilia sulphuraria (Alvarez, 1948) (Poeciliidae)
Tobler, M and Plath, M Book Section 2009 Living in extreme environments
Hose, L.D. Conference Paper 2009 Recent observations in a remarkably dynamic, sulfide-rich, hypogenic cave in southern Mexico
Riesch, R., Duwe, V., Hermann, N., Padur, L., Ramm, A., Scharnweber, K., Schulte, M., Schulz-Mirbach, T., Ziege, M. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2009 Variation along the shy-bold continuum in extremophile fishes (Poecilia mexicana, P. sulphuraria)
Riesch, R, Tobler, M, Plath, M and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2009 Offspring number in a livebearing fish (Poecilia mexicana: Poeciliidae): reduced fecundity and reduced plasticity in a population of cave mollies
Plath, M., Stange, D., Riesch, R. and Oetken, M. Journal Article 2009 Do cave mollies (Poecilia mexicana) obtain information about the resource value of food patches from shoal mates?
Palacios-Vargas, J.G. Journal Article 2009 Los Estudios Bioespeleológicos de la Cueva de Villa Luz y sus perspectivas
Riesch, R., Plath, M., Schlupp, I. and Marsh-Matthews, E. Journal Article 2010 Matrotrophy in the cave molly: An unexpected provisining strategy in an extreme environment
Horstkotte, J., Riesch, R., Plath, M. and Jager, P. Journal Article 2010 Predation by three species of spiders on a cave fish in a Mexican sulfur cave
Plath, M, Reis, R. E., A, Oranth, J, Dzienko, N, Karau, A, Schießl, S, Stadler, A, Wigh, C, Zimmer, Arias Rodriguez, Lenin, I, Schlupp and M, Tobler Journal Article 2010 Complementary effect of natural and sexual selection against immigrants maintains differentiation between locally adapted fish
Riesch, R., Plath, M., Garcia de Leon, F.J. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2010 Convergent life-history shifts: toxic environments result in big babies in two clades of poeciliids
Plath, M., Hermann, B., Schröder, C., Riesch, R., Tobler, M., García de León, F.J., Schlupp I. and Tiedeman, R. Journal Article 2010 Locally adapted fish populations maintain small-scale genetic differentiation despite perturbation by a catastrophic flood event
Riesch, R, Plath, M and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2010 Toxic Hygrogen sulphide and dark caves: life history adaptations to extreme environments in a livebearing fish (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)
Plath, M, Richter, S, Schlupp, I and Tiedemann, R Journal Article 2010 Misleading mollies: Surface but not cave dwelling Poecilia mexicana males deceive competitors about mating preferences
Plath, M. and Tobler, M. Book Section 2010 Subterranean fishes of Mexico (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)
Tobler, M., Coleman, S.W., Perkins, B.D. and Rosenthal, G.G. Journal Article 2010 Reduced opsin gene expression in a cave-dwelling fish
Schulz-Mirbach, T, Ladich, F and Riesch, R Journal Article 2010 Otolith morphology and hearing abilities in cave- and surface-dwelling ecotypes of the Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana (Teleostei: Poeciliidae).
Riesch, R.W., Oranth, A., Dzienko, J., Karau, N., Schiel, A., Stadler, S., Wigh, A., Zimmer, C., Arias-Rodriguez L., Schlupp, I. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2010 Extreme habitats are not refuges: poeciliids suffer from increased aerial predation risk in sulphidic southern Mexican habitats
Tobler, M., Culumber, Z.W., Plath, M., Winemiller, K.O. and Rosenthal, G.G. Journal Article 2010 An indigenous religious ritual selects for resistance to a toxicant in a livebearing fish
Riesch, R., Schlupp, I., Schleucher, E., Hildenbrand, P., Kohler, A., Arias Rodriguez, L. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2011 Reduced starvation resistance and increased metabolic rates in an unusual cave organism: the cave molly (Poecilia mexicana: Poeciliidae)
Tobler, M., Palacios, M., Chapman, L. J., Mitrofanov, I., Bierbach, D., Plath, M. and Mateos, M. Journal Article 2011 Evolution in extreme environments: replicated phenotypic differentiation in livebearing fish inhabiting sulfidic springs
Tobler, M. and Hastings, L. Journal Article 2011 Convergent patterns of body shape differtiation in four different clades of poeciliid fishes inhabiting sulfide springs
Roach, K.A., Tobler, M. and Winemiller, K.O. Journal Article 2011 Hydrogen sulfide, bacteria and fish: a unique subterranean food chain
Palacios-Vargas, J.G., Castano-Meneses, G. and Estrada, D.A. Journal Article 2011 Diversity and dynamics of microarthropods from different biotopes of Las Sardinas cave (Mexico)
Riesch, R, Plath, M and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2011 Speciation in caves: experimental evidence that permanent darkness promotes reproductive isolation
Riesch,R., Schlupp, I., Langerhans, R.B. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2011 Shared and unique patterns of embryo development in extremophile poeciliids
Köhler, A., Hildenbrand, P., Schleucher, E., Riesch, R., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Streit, B. and Plath, M. Book Section 2011 Effects of male sexual harassment on female time budgets, feeding behavior, and metabolic rates in a tropical livebearing fish (Poecilia mexicana)
Mejia, R Journal Article 2011 Cave-dwelling fish provide clues to the circadian cycle
Bierbach, D., Kronmarck, C., Hennige-Schulz, C., Stadler, S. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2011 Sperm competition risk affects male mate choice copying
Schulz-Mirbach, T., Riesch, R., García de León, F.J. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2011 Effects of extreme habitat conditions on otolith morphology – a case study on extremophile livebearing fishes (Poecilia mexicana, P. sulphuraria)
Schulz-Mirbach, T., Heß, M. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2011 Inner Ear Morphology in the Atlantic Molly Poecilia mexicana—First Detailed Microanatomical Study of the Inner Ear of a Cyprinodontiform Species
Riesch, R., Plath, M. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2011 Speciation in caves: experimental evidence that permanent darkness promotes reproductive isolation. Additional background information (with 48 references)
Riesch, R, Plath, M and Schlupp, I Journal Article 2011 Toxic hydrogen sulphide and dark caves: pronounced male life-history divergance among locally adapted Poecilia mexicana ((Poeciliidae)
Plath, M., Riesch, R., Culumber, Z., Streit, B. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2011 Giant water bug (Belostoma sp.) predation on a cave fish (Poecilia mexicana): effects of female body size and gestational state
Tobler, M and Plath, M Book Section 2011 Living in extreme environments
Klaus, S and Plath, M Journal Article 2011 Predation on a cave fish by the freshwater crab Avotrichodactylus bidens (Bott, 1969) (Brachyura, Trichodactylidae) in a Mexican sulfur cave
Kelley, J.L., Passow, C.N., Plath, M., Rodriguez, L.A., Yee, M.C. and Tobler,M. Journal Article 2012 Genomic resources for a model in adaptation and speciation research: characterization of the Poecilia mexicana transcriptome
Bierbach, D., Klein, M., Sassmannshausen, V., Schlupp, I., Riesch, R., Parzefall, J. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2012 Divergent evolution of male aggressive behaviour another reproductive isolation barrier in extremophile poeciliid fishes?
Rosales Lagarde, L. Report 2012 Investigation of karst brackish-sulfidic springs and their role in the hydrogeology, subsurface water-rock interactions, and speleogenesis at northern Sierra de Chiapas
Riesch, R., Plath, M. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2012 The offspring size/fecundity trade-off and female fitness in the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)
Langerhans, R.B. and Riesch, R. Journal Article 2013 Speciation by selection: A framework for understanding ecology's role in speciation
Schlupp, I., Colston, T. J., Joachim, B. L. and Riesch, R. Journal Article 2013 Translocation of cave fish (Poecilia mexicana) within and between natural habitats along a toxicity gradient
Bierbach, D., Penshorn, M., Hamfler, S., Herbert, D. B., Appel, J., Meyer, P., et al. Journal Article 2013 Gradient evolution of body colouration in surface- and cave-dwelling Poecilia mexicana and the role of phenotype-assortative female mate choice.
Ruschenbaum, S. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2013 Non-visual mate choice ability in a cavefish (Poecilia mexicana) is not mechanosensory
Joachim, B.L., Riesch R., and Jeffery, W.R., and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2013 Pignent cell retention in cavernicolous populations of Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae)
Tobler, M., Roach, K., Winemiller, K.O., Morehouse, R.L. and Plath M. Journal Article 2013 Population Structure, Habitat Use, and Diet of Giant Waterbugs in a Sulfidic Cave
Rosales Lagarde, L. Journal Article 2013 Sulfidic karst springs and speleogenesis in the Sierra de Chiapas
Palacios, M., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Plath, M., Eifert, C., Lerp, H., Lamboj, A. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2013 The rediscovery of a long described species reveals additional complexity in speciation patterns of poeciliid fishes in sulfide springs.
Plath, M., Pfenninger, H., Lerp, R., Riesch, R., Eschenbrenner, C., Slettery, P.A., Bierbach, D.N., Herrmann, Schultze, M, Arias Rodriguez, Lenin, Indy, Passow, C., and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2013 Genetic differentiation and selection against migrants in evolutionarily replicated extreme environments
Schlupp, I., Lamatsch, D.K., Teege, K. and Parzefall, J. Journal Article 2013 Food finding ability in several molly species (Poecilia spp.), including the unisexual Amazon molly
Alda, F., Reina, R.G., Doadrio, I., and Bermingham, E. Journal Article 2013 Phylogeny and biogeography of the Poecilia sphenops species complex (Actinopterygii. Poeciliidae) in Central America
Bierbach, D., Shulte, M., Hermann, N., Zimmer, C., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Indy, J.R., Riesch, R. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2013 Predator avoidance in extremophile fish
Eifert, C., Farnworth, M., Schulz-Mirbach, T., Riesch, R., Bierbach, D., Klaus, S., Wurster, A., Tobler, M., Streit, B., Indy, J.R., Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2014 Brain size variation in extremophile fish: local adaptation versus phenotypic plasticity
Tobler, M., Plath, M., Riesch, R., Schlupp, I., Grasse, A., Munimanda, G.K., Setzer, C., Penn, D.J. and Moodley, Y. Journal Article 2014 Selection from parasites favours immunogenetic diversity but not divergence among locally adapted host populations
Jourdan, J., Bierbach, D., Riesch, R., Dzienko, J., Karau, N., Oranth, A., Stadler, S., Schießl, A., Wigh, A., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Indy, J.R., Klaus, S., Zimmer, C. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2014 Microhabitat use, population densities and size distributions of sulfur cave-dwelling Poecilia mexicana
Greenway, R., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Diaz, P. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2014 Patterns of macroinvertebrate and fish diversity in freshwater sulphide springs
Pfenninger, M., Lerp, H., Tobler, M., Passow, C., Kelley, J.L., Funke, E., Greshake, B., Erkoc, U.K., Berberich, T. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2014 Parallel evolution of cox-genes in H2S-tolerant fish as key adaptation to a toxic environment
Rosales-Lagarde, L., Boston, P., Campbell, A., Hose, L., Axen, G. and Stafford, K.W. Journal Article 2014 Hydrogeology of northern Sierra de Chiapas, Mexico: a conceptual model based on a geochemical characterization of sulfide-rich karst brackish springs
Riesch, R., Plath, M., Schlupp, I., Tobler, M. and Langerhans, R.B. Journal Article 2014 Colonization of toxic springs drives predictable life-history shift in livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae).
Palacios-Vargas, J.G., Juberthie, C. and Reddell, J. Book 2014-2015 Encyclopaedia Biospeologica Mexico
Riesch, R, Tobler, CM and Plath, M Book Section 2015 Hydrogen sulphide-toxic habitats
Plath, M., Tobler, M. and Riesch, R. Book Section 2015 Extremophile fishes: An introduction
Tobler, M. and Riesch, R. and Plath, M. Book Section 2015 Extremophile fishes: An integrative synthesis
Pfenninger, M., Patel, S., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Feldmeyer, B., Riesch, R. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2015 Unique evolutionary trajectories in repeated adaptation to hydrogen sulphide-toxic habitats of a neotropical fish (Poecilia mexicana)
Tobler, M., Scharnweber, K., Greenway, R., Passow, C.N., Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Garcıa-De-Leon, F.J.. Journal Article 2015 Convergent changes in the trophic ecology of extremophile fish along replicated environmental gradients
Passow, C.N., Greenway, R., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Jeyasingh, P.D. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2015 Reduction of energetic demands through modification of body size and routine metabolic rates in extremophile fish
Riesch, R., Tobler, M. and Plath, M. Book 2015 Extremophile Fishes: Ecology, Evolution, and Physiology of Teleosts in Extreme Environments
Kelley, J.L., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Patacsil Martin, D., Yee, M.C., Bustamante, C.D. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2016 Mechanisms underlying adaptation to life in Hydrogen sulfide–rich environments
Schulz-Mirbach, T.. Eifert, C., Riesch, R. et al. Journal Article 2016 Toxic hydrogen sulphide shapes brain anatomy: a comparative study of sulphide-adapted ecotypes in the Poecilia mexicana complex
Riesch, R., Reznick, D.N., Plath, M. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2016 Sex-specific local life-history adaptation in surface- and cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana).
Tobler, M., Passow, C.N., Greenway, R., Kelley, J.L. and Shaw, J.H. Journal Article 2016 The evolutionary ecology of animals inhabiting hydrogen sulfide-rich environments
Culumber, Z.W., Hopper, G.W., Barts, N., Passow, C.N., Morgan, S., Brown, A. andTobler, M. Journal Article 2016 Habitat use of two extremophile, highly endemic, and critically endangered fish species (Gambusia eurystoma and Poecilia sulphurophila; Poeciliidae).
Jourdan, J., Jordan, M., Zimmer, C., Eifert, C., Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2016 Response to conspecific chemical cues in surface- and cave-dwelling populations of Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana
Greenway, R., Drexler, S., Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2016 Adaptive, but not condition-dependent, body shape differences contribute to assortative mating preferences during ecological speciation.
Palacios, M., Voelker, G. and Rodriguez, L.A. Journal Article 2016 Phylogenetic analyses of the subgenus Mollienesia (Poecilis, Poeciliidae, Teleostei) reveal taxonomic inconsistencies, cryptic biodiversity and spatio-temporal aspects of diversification in Middle America
Riesch, R., Tobler, C.M., Lerp, H., Jourdan, J., Doumas, T., Nosil, P., Langerhans, R.B. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2016 Extremophile Poeciliidae: Multivariate insights into the complexity of speciation along replicated ecological gradients
Sommer-Trembo, C., Bierbach, D., Arias Rodriguez, L., Verel, Y., Jourdan, J., Zimmer, C. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2016 Does personality affect premating isolation between locally-adapted populations?
Oke, K. B., Rolshausen, G., LeBlond, C. and Hendry, A. P. Journal Article 2017 How parallel is parallel evolution? A comparative analysis in fishes
Culumber, Z.W. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2017 Sex-specific evolution during the diversification of live-bearing fishes.
Passow C.N., Arias-Rodriguez L. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2017 Convergent evolution of reduced energy demands in extremophile fish
Brown, A.P., Greenway, R., Morgan, S., Quackenbush, C.R., Giordani, L., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Tobler, M. and Kelley, J.L. Journal Article 2017 Genome-scale data reveal that endemic Poecilia populations from small sulphidic springs display no evidence of inbreeding
Passow, C.N., Henpita, C., Shaw, J.H., Quakenbush, C., Warren, W.C., Schartl, M. and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2017 The roles of plasticity and evolutionary change in shaping gene expression variation in natural populations of extremophile fish
Passow, C.N., Brown, A.P., Kelley, J.L. and Tobler, M. Conference Paper 2017 Organ-specific patterns of gene expression among extremophile fish populations exposed to toxic hydrogen sulfide and permanent darkness
Reznick, D.N., Furness, A.I., Meredith, R.W. and Springer, M.S. Journal Article 2017 The origin and biogeographic diversification of fishes in the family Poeciliidae
Passow, Courtney N.; Brown, Anthony P.; Arias-Rodriguez, Lenin; et al. Journal Article 2017 Complexities of gene expression patterns in natural populations of an extremophile fish (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)
Hose, L.D. and Rosales-Lagarde, L. Book Section 2017 Sulfur-rich caves of southern Tabasco, Mexico
Barts, N., Greenway, R., Passow, C.N., Arias Rodriguez, L., Kelley, J.L., and Tobler, M. Journal Article 2017 Expression and molecular evolution of oxygen transport genes in livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae) from hydrogen sulfide rich springs
Bierbach, D., Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2018 Intrasexual competition enhances reproductive isolation between locally adapted populations
Bierbach, D., Lukas. J.A., Bergmann, A., Elsner, K., Höhne, L., Weber, C., Weimar, N., Redriguez, L.A., Mönck, H.J., Nguyen, H., Romanczuk, P., Landgraf, T. and Krause, J. Journal Article 2018 Insights into the social behavior of surface and cave-dwelling fish (Poecilia mexicana) in light and darkness through the use of a biomimetic robot
Torres-Dowdall, J., Karagic, N., Plath, M. and Riesch, R. Journal Article 2018 Evolution in caves: selection from darkness causes spinal deformities in teleost fishes
Tobler, M., Kelley, J.L., Plath, M., and Riesch, R. Journal Article 2018 Extreme environments and the origins of biodiversity: Adaptation and speciation in sulphide spring fishes
Lau, G.Y., Barts, N., Hartley, R.C., Tobler, M., Richards, J.G., Murphy, M.P. and Arndt, S. Journal Article 2019 Detection of changes in mitochondrial hydrogen sulfide in vivo in the fish model Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae)
McGowan, K.L., Passow, C.N., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Tobler, M and Kelley, J.L. Journal Article 2019 Supplementary material for "Expression analyses of cave mollies (Poecilia mexicana) reveal key genes involved in the early evolution of eye regression"
Torres-Martínez, A., Ruiz de Dios, L., Hernández-Franyutti, A., Uribe, M.C., and Sánchez, W.C. Journal Article 2019 Structure of the testis and spermatogenesis of the viviparous teleost Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae) from an active sulfur spring cave in Southern Mexico
McGowan, K.L., Passow, C.N., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Tobler, M. and Kelley, J.L. Journal Article 2019 Expression analyses of cave mollies (Poecilia mexicana) reveal key genes involved in the early evolution of eye regression.
Riesch, R., Morley, N.J., Jourdan, J., Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2020 Sulphide-toxic habitats are not refuges from parasite infections in an extremophile fish
Warren, M.L. and Burr, B.M. Book 2020 Freshwater fishes of North America. Volume 2 Characidae to Poeciliidae
Ghedotti, M.J., Davis, M.P. and Echelle, A.A. Book Section 2020 Poeciliidae: Livebearers
Kelley J.L., Desvignes T., McGowan K.L., Perez M., Rodriguez L. A., Brown A.P., . . . and Tobler M. Journal Article 2021 microRNA expression variation as a potential molecular mechanism contributing to adaptation to hydrogen sulphide
Owens, G.L., Veen, T., Moxley, D.R., Arias-Rodriguez, L., Tobler, M. and Rennison, D.J. Journal Article 2021 Parallel shifts of visual sensitivity and body coloration in replicate populations of extremophile fish
Riesch, R., Curtis, A., Jourdan, J., Schlupp, I. Arias-Rodriguez, L. and Plath, M. Journal Article 2022 Two ecological gradients drive phenotypic differentiation of a cave fish over a few hundred metres
Wilkens, H. Journal Article 2023 The general significance of variability in cave regressive traits for evolution
Nobrega, M.D. Thesis 2023 Adaptation in sulfide spring fishes: experimental approaches
Riesch, R. Arriaga, L.R. and Schlupp, I. Journal Article 2023 Sex-specific life-history trait expression in hybrids of a cave- and surface-dwelling fish (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae)