HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesLive bearers, Killifishes and RivulinesRivulinesSplendid pearlfish Splendid pearlfish (Leptolebias splendens) Scientific name: Leptolebias splendens Myers, 1942 The Splendid pearlfish (Leptolebias splendens) is a freshwater fish of the family Rivulidae. Native range: South America, vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Listed as Vulnerable in IUCN 2004 and listed in Appendix II of CITES. BiologyBottom spawner, 4 months incubation. Is very difficult, experimented, to maintain in aquarium.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameLeptolebias splendensFamilyRivulidae (Rivulines)OrderCyprinodontiformes (Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length3.0EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratoryClimateSubtropicalDistributionSouth America: vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Listed as Vulnerable in IUCN 2004 and listed in Appendix II of CITES.Conservation status (IUCN)Vulnerable (VU) (B1+2ac+3bd)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026