The Splitfins or Goodeids are the family Goodeidae of bony fish. Fishbase recognises 53 species, classified into 19 genera. The family includes a number of popular aquarium fish, for example the Redtail SplitfinXenotoca eiseni. Splitfins are found in fresh or brackish water, in Nevada and west central Mexico. Many have very local distributions.
The family is divided into two subfamilies. One, the Emptrichinae, contains only the two species classified in the genus Empetrichthys. The remaining species are classified in the subfamily Goodeinae. Goodeines are viviparous (live-bearing).
The group gets its name from the fact that, in the male fish, the anterior rays of the anal fin are partly separated from rest of the fin. Splitfins can be up to 20 cm in length, though most species are much smaller, around 5cm.
Splitfins, are a family, Goodeidae, of teleost fish endemic to Mexico and some areas of the United States.
The speciosity of this family can be attributed to historical volcanic and geological disturbance in this region, which created suitable conditions for allopatric speciation of the fish
Webb, S.A., Graves, J.A., Macías-Garcia, C., Magurran, A.E., Ó Foighil, D. and Ritchie, M.G. "Molecular phylogeny of the livebearing Goodeidae (Cyprinodontiformes)".
The family Goodeidae is restricted to the ancient Aztec domain of west-central Mexico.
The Goodeidae comprises a wholly Mexican family of viviparous freshwater fishes represented by 35 or more species largely restricted to the highlands of Mesa Central.
The first six or seven rays of the male anal fin are crowded, shortened, and often separated from the rest of the fin by a distinct notch; they probably aid in insemination.
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