Anatomy question and book recommendation

[Ken Martin]

Hi, folks,

Anatomy question- the silvery lining that covers the interior abdominal cavity, so that when you look at the fish you do not see their inner workings, only this metallic-looking covering. I have a female calico molly (orange creamcicle with black spots) that drops broods of fry with black spotting or entirely black pigment on this interior covering, so that they show an interesting translucent black where the silver would show through on a molly fry with wild coloring.

Also, can anyone recommend a good book on livebearer heredity and husbandry?

[W_Oz]

I'd assume that was the coelomic epithelium that you're describing in your molly. But I'm not an ichthyologist and I wasn't paying that much attention in vertebrate anatomy.

[Ken Martin]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. Is there a common name for this?