MEEK, 1902

Skiffia variegata MEEK, 1902
Goodea lermae REGAN, 1907

English name:
Hooded Sawfin

Family:
Goodeidae JORDAN, 1923.

Subfamily:
Goodeinae JORDAN, 1923.

Original description:
MEEK, S. E. (1902): A Contribution to the Ichthyology of Mexiko.
Field Col. Mus. Publ., 3 (6), pp. 63 - 128.

Origin of the species name:
the name lermae refers to the distributional range of the fish, which is the Rio Lerma Basin

Type locality:
Lago de Patzcuaro, close to the town Patzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico.
 

Meristic properties:
Dorsal fin = 31 rays,
Anal fin = 12 rays,
Pectoral fin = 16 rays,
Ventral fin 6 rays.
 

The culture of Skiffia lermae is not difficult. Aquariums of 80 liters or larger should be used containing at least 2 liters of water per fish.

Skiffia lermae demands no special water parameters. Hard water with a pH value of approximately 7 to 9 is best for these fish. The water temperature should fluctuate between 19 °C and 24 °C. Fluctuating temperatures between night and day (and especially seasonal fluctuations) are beneficial for Skiffia lermae and are vital for the long lasting health of these fish.

The water should be regularly changed. Since this species lives a somewhat secluded life, hiding places in the aquarium, such as plants, stone constructions and roots should be included.

The food demands of Skiffia lermae are modest, so that flakes, frozen and live-food of all kinds are accepted. A vegetable portion should be included in the diet. Scalded spinach should be added as a supplement food.
Any algae in the aquarium will become an additional source of food.
Breeding is not as easy as it is the case with other species and will only be met with success under good aquarium conditions. The number of offspring in a single spawn is small.
The size of the fry varies between 8 and 12 mm. The older fish do not especially chase their young.
In two biotopes in which he had found Skiffia lermae BRIAN KABBES could find only a low population density. It could not be clarified whether this species is suppressed by the other fish genera living in the same biotope and cannot compete with them, or if the progressive water decline (which means a reduction of the biotope) plays a role. While in the case of Skiffia lermae only adult specimens existed while among the other genera fish of all ages could be found.
Variability of these fish seemed low. All of the fish were covered with very little marbling, in contrast to other populations that had been obseved.
In both visited biotopes Skiffia lermae is immensely under pressure and it is very likely that it will be the first species to disappear. Mainly at the habitat Rancho El Molino the water pollution is very high because of the daily use of large amounts of detergent.

Literature of:

Skiffia lermae (Meek, 1902)

H.  Hieronimus (1992) : Skiffia multipunctata, ein Anfängerfisch?. DGLZ-Rundschau  (3): 52-54

C.L.  Hubbs (1924) : Studies of the fishes of the order Cyprinodontes V. Notes on species of Goodea and Skiffia. Occasional papers of the museum of zoology University of Michigan  (148): 1-8

B. Kabbes (1999) : Vangreis van Brian en Simone Kabbes, Mexico 1998 Conclusies en bevindingen Familie Goodeidae. Poecilia Nieuws  (2): 22-35

D. Lambert (0) : Skiffia lermae Meek, 1902. Viviparous  (45): 0-

D. Lambert (0) : The sawfin Goodeids. Viviparous  (11): 0-6

D. Lambert (0) : The livebearer trail part 2. Viviparous  (17): 0-

D. Lambert (1989) : Mexico '87. Livebearers  (104): 7-9

D. Lambert (1990) : Mexico - the livebearer trail part 2. Aquarist & Pondkeeper  (April): 34-

D. Lambert (1991) : Het geslacht Skiffia. Poecilia Nieuws  (4): 65-70

D. Lambert (1991) : Mexico's threatened livebearers. Livebearers  (116): 21-27

J.K.  Langhammer (1982) : The lost treasure of the Aztecs Part II - The elfin and sawfin Goodeids. Livebearers (65): 3-5

S.E.  Meek (1902) : A contribution to the ichthyology of Mexico. Field Columbian Museum - Zoology  (6): 63-1128

G. Mendoza (1965) : Sexual dimorphism in the dorsal fins of Ollentodon and Skiffia, Mexican Goodeid Teleosts. Iowa Academy of Science  (72): 469-477

R.R.  Miller (1976) : An evalution of Seth E. Meek's contributions to Mexican Ichthyology. Fieldiana Zoology (1): 1-31

J. de Moree (1999) : De Skiffia's. Poecilia Nieuws  (5): 102-105

A.C.  Radda (1986) : Cyprinodonte vissen in Mexico (slot). Poecilia Nieuws  (4): 54-57

E. Soto-Galera et al (1998) : Fish as indicators of environmental quality in the Río Lerma Basin, México. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management  (1): 267-276

E. Soto-Galera et al (1999) : Change in fish fauna as indication of aquatic ecosystem condition in Río Grande de Morelia - Lago de Cuitzeo Basin, Mexico. Environmental Management  (1): 133-140

A.T.  Tveteraas (0) : Collecting goodeids in the area near Morelia, Mexico. Viviparous  (23): 0-

 

lermae, Skiffia Meek 1902: 102, Pl. 25 upper & middle [Field Columbian Mus. Zool. Ser. v. 3 (no. 6); ref. 2957]. Patzcuaro Lake at Parzvuaro, R. Lerma system, Michoacan, Mexico. Holotype: FMNH 3616. Paratypes: FMNH 3622-24 (0, 88, 29), 14461 (1), 72589 (17); SU 22342 (18), 68747 [ex SU 22342] (2, c&s); UMMZ 65230 [ex IU 11068] (4); ?USNM 55860 (22). Type catalog: Ibarra & Stewart 1987:80 [ref. 12367]. Valid as Skiffia lermae Meek 1902 -- (Espinosa Pérez et al. 1993:43 [ref. 22290]). Skiffia lermae Meek 1902, Goodeidae: Goodeinae. Habitat: freshwater.