Species profile
Eastern Mosquitofish
Gambusia holbrooki
Identify Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 8,251 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Native to Atlantic Coast freshwater drainages from New Jersey south through Florida.
- Females can store sperm to fertilize multiple successive broods from a single mating.
- Tolerates salinities approaching full seawater, surviving in both freshwater streams and coastal marshes.
- Gives birth to live young; females can produce multiple broods per warm-season year.
- Introduced worldwide, it now outcompetes native small fish in many freshwater habitats.
Where Eastern Mosquitofish are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Eastern Mosquitofish
Background
The eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The eastern mosquitofish is native to the eastern and southern United States from Florida to Delaware and inland to Alabama and Tennessee, while the western mosquitofish has a larger…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Eastern Mosquitofish article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Eastern Mosquitofish?
Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Eastern Mosquitofish?
Eastern Mosquitofish is Gambusia holbrooki.
Is Eastern Mosquitofish regulated for fishing?
Yes — Eastern Mosquitofish has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Eastern Mosquitofish?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Eastern Mosquitofish along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.