Xiphophorus maculatus
Southern Platyfish
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cyprinodontiformes
Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Xiphophorus
Xiphophorus maculatus (Southern Platyfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Distinct line of black pigment midventrally on caudal peduncle absent. Greatest body depth about 2 times in SL. Ventral rays of caudal fin of males not elongated into a sword. Male gonopodium falling short of caudal fin base, without a membranous protuberance, third ray with a strong hook (Ref. 30499).
Distribution
North and Central America: Ciudad Veracruz, Mexico to northern Belize. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic.
Biology
Adults occur in warm springs, canals and ditches with typically slow-moving water, silt bottoms and weedy banks (Refs. 5723; 44091, 44894). Also inhabit creeks and swamps (Ref. 44894). Feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Refs. 7020; 44091). Used for genetic research (Ref. 4537). Several color varieties are popular aquarium fishes, where they attain sexual maturity after 3-4 months and reproduce easily (Ref. 1672). Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 60 cm (Ref. 51539).
Max length: 4.0 cm TL; common length: 2.3 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers); parental care: maternal. After 24 to 30 days gestation, 20 to 80 young are born (Ref 7020).
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2018-04-03. Resilience: High (tm<1).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Arthington, A.H. (1989) Diet of Gambusia affinis holbrooki, Xiphophorus helleri, X. maculatus, and Poecilia reticulata (Pisces: Poeciliidae) in streams of southeastern Queensland, Australia. Asian Fish. Sci. 2:193-212.
Wischnath, L. (1993) Atlas of livebearers of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., United States of America. 336 p.
Rodriguez, C.M. (1997) Phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Poeciliini (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae). Copeia 1997(4):663-679.
Greenfield, D.W. and J.E. Thomerson (1997) Fishes of the continental waters of Belize. University Press of Florida, Florida. 311 p.
Keith, P., G. Marquet, P. Valade, P. Bosc and E. Vigneux (2006) Atlas des poissons et des crustacés d'eau douce des Comores, Mascareignes et Seychelles. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. Patrimoines naturels, 65:250p.
Mundy, B.C. (2005) Checklist of the fishes of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Bishop Mus. Bull. Zool. (6):1-704.
Comments On Xiphophorus maculatus