It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes, and is the type species of its genus.

[1][4] This species has the terminal, upward-facing mouth typical of surface feeders, and a protruding belly.

The dorsal and caudal fins are typically partially spotted.

[1] Gambusia punctata is part of a species complex including G. rhizophorae, G. xanthosoma, G. beebei and G.

[6] Additional cryptic species have been proposed to exist within the range of G. punctata on the basis of mitochondrial haplogroup data.