Xiphophorus variatus
Variable Platyfish
NS
G5
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cyprinodontiformes
Poeciliidae (Livebearers)
Xiphophorus
Xiphophorus variatus (Variable Platyfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
North America: endemic to Mexico from southern Tamaulipas to northern Veracruz. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic. Found in: streams.
Biology
Occurs in warm springs, weedy canals and ditches (Ref. 5723). Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Ref. 7020). Used for genetic research (Ref. 4537). Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 60 cm (Ref. 51539).
Max length: 7.0 cm TL; common length: 3.9 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers). After 24 days gestation, up to 100 young are born.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2018-03-28. Resilience: High (tm<1; multiple spawning per year; Fec=100).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
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.
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.
Comments On Xiphophorus variatus