Girardinus

Girardinus is a genus of poeciliids native to Cuba. The name of this genus honours the French zoologist Charles Frédéric Girard for his work on the freshwater fish of North America.

Girardinus is endemic (restricted) to Cuba, where it occurs both on the main island and the Isla de la Juventud. Western Cuba contains the highest number of species and is considered the origin of the genus. Girardinus does not occur in central Cuba south of the Sancti Spíritus district nor in several eastern areas, including the short river systems south of the Sierra Maestra and west of Sagua-Baracoa. The speciation in Girardinus may be driven by Cuba's karst topography, in which rivers are interrupted by waterfalls or vanish underground for several kilometers. All Girardinus species except G. creolus extend beyond the upper stream reaches.