I was sampling and doing limited collecting on July 12, 2014 near the Wacissa River Florida, south of Aucilla WMA/Cabbage Grove, about halfway between the Aucilla (under ground for the most part) and the Wacissa Rivers on road 681. We found a sinkhole just next to the road with heavy sediment, high ph -- off the register of the kit I had. Limestone/lime "mud" bottom. Little or no visible aquatic vegetation in the area we could see.
Seemed to only be a single species in the small pond; all that we caught appeared the same general body type. We couldn't sample in the center of the pool, only on the edges.
We saw a good many melanistic fish, and caught two - thinking both were males. They were obviously a lot larger than the typical Gambusino males (I have several in my aquarium, and have caught a good many)
However, once we got the fish in a clear collection tank, one was definitely a female.
I am pretty sure this is a female melanistic Gambusino spp - either G. Affinis or G. Holbrooki. Common name "Mosquito Fish". By the way, the fins are not shredded - the margins are clear, and the photo quality is mediocre.
Kept two female "normals". One didn't make it home Below is a photo of the full body. The color is washed out; there is a clear "preggo spot" on both this fish and the other "normal" that I now have in an aquarium along with the two melanistic fish I kept.
Below is the male, with the female in the background. He is a full centimeter longer than the males I have caught/have in aquaria. Notice the obvious gonopodium.
When they settle into the tank and are over the shock of transport, I can take photos of all three from this location.
When we can, we'll go back and do a more thorough search, hopefully get an accurate water test as well.
